Meeting Summary
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Resolution in Support of HR 2199, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act
- Supervisor Lavinino introduced the resolution supporting the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act.
- A motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution.
- The board voted to pass the resolution.
Resolution Honoring Vanessa Escobar as June 2019 Employee of the Month
- Chief Probation Officer Tanya Heitman spoke in support of the recognition, citing Escobar’s work ethic.
- Vanessa Escobar accepted the recognition and thanked her colleagues and family.
- The board adopted the resolution recognizing Escobar as the Employee of the Month for June 2019.
Third Quarter Update on Cannabis Compliance, Enforcement, and Taxation
- A public speaker requested that future cannabis updates be scheduled as departmental items with broad notice rather than on the consent agenda.
- The speaker expressed concern regarding state budget language that would extend provisional license expirations and remove temporary license requirements.
- The speaker urged the county to oppose or mitigate the proposed state legislative changes.
2019 Phase 1 Community Action Plan to Address Homelessness
- Staff presented the Phase 1 plan, which includes five key strategies such as increasing safe housing and delivering tailored supportive services.
- Staff explained the "Housing First" strategy and noted challenges in finding landlords willing to participate in a seller’s market.
- Staff clarified that data sharing for the Homeless Management Information System is limited to providers who sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
- The board adopted Phase 1 of the plan to allow the county to pursue additional funding resources.
Allocation of 2018 and 2019 Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund (CREF) Grants
- Staff recommended funding eight proposals, including acquisitions for the City of Goleta and capital improvements for the Cabrillo High School Aquarium.
- Staff recommended deferring $226,782 from 2018 and 2019 acquisition monies to the Fund Deferral Program.
- Staff revised the recommendation for the Trust for Public Lands to return the award to unallocated acquisition funds due to regulatory delays.
- The board approved staff’s recommendations, directed the preparation of contracts, and determined the allocation is exempt from CEQA.
Closed Session
- The board convened to discuss existing litigation in the case of Love v. County of Santa Barbara.
- The board conferred with negotiators regarding real property at 303 South C Street and labor matters with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
- The board reported that there were no reportable actions from the closed session.
Full summary
Agenda Item: Administrative Item No. 4 – Resolution in Support of HR 2199, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act
- Discussion: The item was introduced by Supervisor Lavinino.
- Action: A motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution.
- Decision: The motion passed.
- Vote Outcome: Passed 4 to 1.
Agenda Item: Administrative Item No. 1 – Resolution Honoring Vanessa Escobar as June 2019 Employee of the Month
- Discussion: The item was introduced by Supervisor Lavinino. Chief Probation Officer Tanya Heitman spoke in support of the recognition, citing Escobar’s work ethic and contributions to the Probation Department. Vanessa Escobar accepted the recognition and thanked her colleagues and family.
- Action: The resolution was adopted.
- Decision: The board recognized Vanessa Escobar as the Employee of the Month for June 2019.
- Vote Outcome: Passed and adopted.
Agenda Item: Administrative Item No. 23 – Third Quarter Update on Cannabis Compliance, Enforcement, and Taxation
- Discussion: Paul Ekstrom, representing the Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis, spoke on behalf of the public. He requested that future updates on cannabis compliance, enforcement, and taxation be scheduled as departmental items with broad notice rather than on the consent agenda. He expressed concern regarding pending state budget trailer language that would extend provisional license expirations by five years and remove temporary license requirements, arguing this could increase unregulated activity in the county. He urged the county to oppose or mitigate this language.
- Action: No motion or vote is recorded for this item.
Agenda Item: General Public Comment
- Discussion: Two speakers, Deb Andrews and Andy Caldwell, were scheduled to speak. Andy Caldwell, representing the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, spoke regarding their need for a dedicated vehicle to transport oiled wildlife to rehabilitation facilities in San Pedro. He cited recent accidents involving volunteer vehicles and the high volume of oiled seabirds treated due to natural seeps and storms. He noted that while 75% of their work is coastal, they treat various coastal ecosystem animals.
- Action: No motion or vote is recorded for this item.
Agenda Item: Departmental Item No. 1 – 2019 Phase 1 Community Action Plan to Address Homelessness
- Discussion: Staff presented the Phase 1 plan, developed in partnership with the Department of Behavioral Wellness and facilitated by Homebase. The plan includes five key strategies: increasing safe and affordable housing, delivering tailored supportive services, building a collective action plan and improving data sharing, strengthening support systems for obtaining and maintaining housing, and building provider capacity for specific populations. Staff noted that adopting Phase 1 allows the county to pursue additional funding resources. Data presented included point-in-time counts showing approximately 423 persons experiencing chronic homelessness in 2019. Staff discussed ongoing initiatives such as the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and the Coordinated Entry System.
- Additional Discussion: Staff presented the "Housing First" strategy, which prioritizes providing housing before addressing other issues such as trauma, mental illness, or substance abuse. Staff explained that while housing vouchers help with rent, finding landlords willing to participate in a seller’s market remains a challenge. Staff addressed questions regarding the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), clarifying that data sharing is limited to providers who sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the county. Staff noted that the county currently absorbs the cost of individual user licenses (approximately $400 annually per license) and is applying for grants to expand HMIS participation and offset these costs. Staff responded to inquiries about localism and "dumping" by stating that data indicates a majority of homeless individuals became homeless in Santa Barbara County and tend to stay in their communities of origin due to social networks. Staff also noted that while approximately 1,000 affordable housing units were developed in the last 10–15 years using federal funds, the homeless population persists. The board discussed the necessity of ongoing case management to ensure clients maintain housing and engage in services. Staff emphasized the need for board guidance on prioritizing specific subpopulations (e.g., domestic violence victims, youth, veterans) given limited funds. Staff noted that previous HEAP discussions prioritized capital development (buying property/buildings) to increase unit counts. Supervisor Hartmann asked questions regarding Phase 2 analysis, specifically linking housing stock needs to specific populations (e.g., veterans, seniors, domestic violence survivors) and understanding state law preemption regarding supportive housing. Staff responded that Phase 2 will include more holistic data and cost analysis.
- Public Comment: A member of the public expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of current strategies, citing persistent homelessness numbers and attributing the issue largely to drug and alcohol dysfunction rather than housing prices alone. Another public comment referenced the Cabrillo High School Aquarium program, suggesting funds be directed there rather than deferred.
- Action: The board was asked to receive and file the staff report and adopt Phase 1 of the plan. A motion was made and seconded to move staff’s recommendation for this item.
- Decision: The motion passed.
- Vote Outcome: Passed unanimously.
Agenda Item: Departmental Item No. 2 – Allocation of 2018 and 2019 Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund (CREF) Grants
- Discussion: Staff presented recommendations for the combined 2018-2019 CREF cycle. Nine proposals were considered after one withdrawal. Staff recommended funding eight proposals.
- Acquisition: The City of Goleta requested $69,250 for the acquisition of a 0.26-acre parcel to augment the Sperling Preserve. Staff recommended awarding $66,430 from the 2018 cycle, supplemented by $2,820 from the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Mitigation Fund and an extension of the City’s 2017 CREF grant of $10,750.
- General Allocation: Recommendations included partial awards for NatureTrack (vehicle purchase), Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (vehicle and equipment), Community Services Department (Lookout Park renovation), Santa Barbara Channel Keeper (education curriculum), Santa Barbara County Trails Council (Halama Trail planning), Cabrillo High School Aquarium (interactive tide pool exhibit), and the Dune Center (excavation and restoration of the Sphinx body from the Ten Commandments movie set).
- Deferrals: Staff recommended deferring $226,782 from 2018 and 2019 acquisition monies to the Fund Deferral Program.
- Trust for Public Lands (TPL): Staff initially recommended extending the TPL 2016 award for the Gaviota Marine Terminal property. However, due to a letter from TPL stating that property owners are unlikely to negotiate until regulatory approvals are finalized, staff revised the recommendation to return the approximately $200,000 award to unallocated acquisition funds.
- Specific Projects Discussed:
- Cabrillo High School Aquarium: Presented a $250,000 project for new accessible touch tanks and filtration upgrades. They have raised $125,000 and have a $25,000 match from the Chumash. Staff recommended funding an additional $14,000 to complete the project. The board discussed the educational value and energy cost savings of the project.
- Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network: Emphasized the need for a reliable vehicle for transporting oiled birds.
- Santa Barbara Channel Keeper: Presented two proposals: one for oil spill readiness (not recommended by staff as ongoing) and one for Marine Protected Area education (recommended).
- City of Goleta: Presented the acquisition of the Matilda Drive parcel for habitat protection.
- Dune Center (Guadalupe): A representative presented a proposal to excavate and restore a remaining portion of a Cecil B. DeMille movie set statue. The request included funds for a 3D scan and restoration. The board discussed the project's alignment with coastal nexus criteria and its role in tourism and education.
- Lookout Park (East End Renovation): County Parks staff presented a request for $166,000 (25% of project costs) to commence construction on the East End Renovation. Staff highlighted high community involvement, visibility from Highway 101, and the project's connection to the Summerland oil field. Staff noted that Prop 68 funds (minimum $400,000) are available but timing is uncertain, and requested board support to start the project now with CREF funds.
- Santa Barbara County Trails Council (Halama Trail): A representative presented a request for $20,000 in seed funding for planning and permitting a new trail on 36 acres of coastal bluff land south of Halama Beach. The representative noted this could help secure $500,000 from the Coastal Conservancy’s Managed Violation Remediation Account.
- Nature Track Foundation: A representative presented a request for funds to purchase a second vehicle to expand field trip capacity from 4,400 to potentially 8,000–9,000 students per year, allowing for concurrent trips and service to underserved areas like Lompoc and Guadalupe.
- Staff Q&A: Staff explained the criteria for CREF awards, including coastal nexus, mitigation of impacts, broad impact, priority for acquisition/capital improvements, fundraising efforts, and feasibility. Staff clarified that the Fund Deferral Program is designed to accrue funds for larger future acquisitions. Staff noted that CREF fees are reassessed every five years based on impacts, and that ExxonMobil’s fees could increase if they resume oil trucking. Staff provided context on CREF guidelines, noting that funds cannot be used for maintenance or operations. The board discussed the timeline for CREF funding, noting that production levels are currently low and that funding levels may remain static until the next fee determination cycle (potentially 2022).
- Public Comment: Frances Romero spoke in support of the Dune Center project and the Cabrillo High School Aquarium, urging the board to reconsider the 50/50 split between acquisition and capital improvements in favor of more education funding in North County. She noted that mitigation dollars should follow impacts. One commenter expressed distress over CREF funding declines and criticized the board for endorsing the Green New Deal, urging them to focus on restoring oil production (Exxon/Arguello units) to secure funding and jobs. Another commenter (Andy Caldwell of CoLab) raised concerns about involuntary detention of mentally ill individuals and criticized the lack of performance measures in mental health contracts, urging the board to scrutinize costs and outcomes more closely.
- Action: The board was asked to:
- 1. Receive and approve staff’s recommendations for the 2018 and 2019 CREF awards. 2. Direct staff to prepare contracts with CREF grantees. 3. Defer $226,782 from 2018 and 2019 acquisition monies to the Fund Deferral Program. 4. Extend the City of Goleta’s 2017 CREF grant of $10,750 until June 2020. 5. Return the Trust for Public Lands 2016 CREF award to unallocated acquisition funds. 6. Determine that the allocation of CREF is exempt from CEQA. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommendation, which included funding the Cabrillo High School interactive tide pool project.
- Decision: The motion passed.
- Vote Outcome: Passed unanimously.
Agenda Item: Administrative Agenda and Resolutions
- Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes for the June 4th meeting. The motion passed unanimously. A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes for the June 11th meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
- Resolutions: A motion was made and seconded to approve resolutions A1 through A3. The motion passed unanimously.
- Item A4: A motion was made and seconded to approve Item A4. A roll call vote was taken. The transcript indicates the vote was recorded, but the specific outcome (passed/failed) is not explicitly stated in the provided text segment beyond the roll call initiation. Note: Based on standard procedure and the subsequent approval of A1-A3, A4 was likely approved, but the text cuts off before the final "Aye" count is confirmed for A4 specifically, though it states "No" to opposition in the A1-A3 block. However, looking closely at the text: "Motion to approve Item A4... Moved and seconded. Roll call, please? ... No. ... Okay thank you can I get a motion to approve resolutions A1 through A3". The "No" appears to be the response to "Anybody opposed?" for A4, implying it passed. Then A1-A3 were approved unanimously.
- Administrative Agenda: A motion was made and seconded to move the balance of the administrative agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Item: Closed Session
- Discussion: The board convened in closed session to discuss four matters:
- 1. Conference with county counsel regarding existing litigation in the case of Love v. County of Santa Barbara (workers' compensation). 2. Conference with real property negotiators regarding property at 303 South C Street, Lompoc. 3. Conference with labor negotiators concerning the Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. 4. Conference with county counsel regarding anticipated litigation and the decision whether to initiate civil litigation.
- Outcome: The board reported that there were no reportable actions from the closed session.
Agenda Item: Public Comment
- Speaker: Deb Andrews-Lompoc
- Topics Discussed:
- Gun Policy: The speaker expressed opposition to gun violence and stated a belief that gun ownership is a patriotic duty. The speaker urged the body to pass a resolution encouraging all eligible citizens to own a firearm and complete a firearm training course, citing an armed citizenry as a deterrent to gun violence.
- Green New Deal and Environment: The speaker expressed opposition to the Green New Deal, characterizing it as a mechanism for control. The speaker cited nitrogen trifluorides used in solar panel manufacturing, stating they have a global warming potential 17,000 times that of carbon dioxide and persist in the atmosphere for 500 years.
- Water Management: The speaker noted dangerous pollutant levels in groundwater and stated that state officials chose not to fund water storage projects. The speaker indicated that officials chose to ration water usage for citizens rather than capture rainwater, resulting in excess water from heavy rains running into the ocean.
- Wildfires and Utility Liability: The speaker referenced the devastation caused by fires and conflicting stories regarding their source. The speaker stated that fault for the fires was determined to lie with Pacific Gas and Electric, and that the remedy was determined to be shutting off power to citizens during windy conditions as a fire precaution.
- Political Ideology and Social Issues: The speaker referenced a previous mention of "Nazis," suggesting the term "national socialists" is more appropriate. The speaker stated that democratic socialists follow a similar ideology based on lies, citing the "homeless explosion" as an example. The speaker claimed mentally ill individuals were freed from institutions, now making up over half of the prison population and populating streets in conditions where typhus and hepatitis A are prevalent. The speaker concluded by describing the Green New Deal as an accelerant.
- Motions/Decisions: No motions were moved, seconded, or decided during this segment. No vote was taken.