Board of Supervisors — 2019-10-15

Yes.

Pickles and Swiss, and I ordered what you got last time.

Oh so bad. So I'll have Corey give me some cancel that's cool. We'll give it to somebody else

there's some.

Yep.

Smells so good. Ready? Good morning everybody, I'd like to call this meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to order Madam Clerk, can I get a roll call please?

Mr. Williams? Here. Mr. Hart?

Here.

Ms. Hartman? Here! Mr. Adam?

Here

Chair Lavagnino?

Can I get a motion to approve the minutes from October the 8th?

So moved.

Moved and seconded, roll call please.

Mr. Williams?

Aye.

Mr. Hart? Aye. Ms. Hartman? Aye Mr. Adam? Mr. Adam?

Aye

Chair Lavenino?

Aye

Motion passes unanimous

Very good do we have a CEO's report this morning

Yes good morning chair members of the board I have one announcement today. The county is hosting an elected leaders forum to address the topic of homelessness from 1 to 330 on Wednesday, October 30 and solving at the Hotel Cork which is located on 400 at 400 also road. The forum will be noticed as a special board meeting of the Board of Supervisors in order for all county supervisors to have the opportunity to attend, and city council members have all been invited as well. The meeting is also open to the public. The purpose of the forum is to hear concerns regarding the impacts of homelessness on local communities, learn about recent state legislation and funding opportunities, understand best practices, gather feedback for future funding, and receive input into the phase two community action plan to address homelessness.

So again, that's on October 30th from 1 to 3.30 at the Hotel Cork. That's it.

Okay very good thank you very much Madam Clerk any changes to today's agenda?

Yes, Chair Lavagnino and members of the board. I just have one quick announcement this morning. We post an addendum to our agenda on Friday amending our closed session agenda to include conference with legal counsel existing litigation paragraph run in subdivision D of government code section 54956.9 Jordan V County of Santa Barbara and that is included on our posted agenda online as well as available in the back of the room.

Okay very good With that, we'll move to our administrative agenda. Can I get a motion to approve items A1 through A10?

So moved.

Excuse me. A4 is being pulled though so let's do A1 through 10 excluding 4.

So moved.

Moved and seconded roll call please.

Mr. Williams?

Aye.

Mr Hart?

Aye.

Ms Hartman? Aye Mr Adam? Chair Lavenino.

Aye.

Motion passes unanimous.

Okay, so why don't we let's just

Chair Lavinino and members of the board, Administrative Item number one is sponsored by Supervisor Williams. It is to adopt a resolution designating October 2018 as Dyslexia Awareness Month and recognizing the work of the Santa Barbara Right Care Center. And if I can have Julie Angelis and Summer Colvert to the podium please? And anyone else you'd like to join with you?

Go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas dyslexia is the most common different learning ability and is defined as unexpected difficulty in reading for an individual due to issues in getting to the individual sounds of spoken language, which affects the ability of an individual to speak, read, spell, and often learn a language. And whereas, early diagnosis of dyslexia is critical for ensuring that individuals with dyslexia receive focused evidence-based intervention that leads to the promotion of self awareness and self empowerment. And the provision of necessary accommodations so as to ensure school and life success.

That has been providing critical screenings for parents who have concerns about their child's speech and language development, in addition to a number of valuable services to support and treat children who have identified delays with their speech and language development since 1984. And is one of the 170 right care centers across the country. And whereas the Santa Barbara Right Care Center's Literacy Intervention Program, BRAINLAB, designed to address reading language and cognitive skills was started in 2012 and is designed for students in second grade through sixth grade and is offered at no cost to participants. And whereas the work done at the Santa Barbara Wright Care Center is absolutely essential to the overall effort. To identify and treat different learning abilities such as dyslexia, and our county would benefit from the expansion and development of similar programs.

And now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors designates October 2018 as Dyslexia Awareness Month and recognizes the work of Santa Barbara Wright Care Center passed and adopted today.

Thank you so much. My name is Julie DeAngelis and this is Summer Calvert, and we are speech-language pathologists from SB RightCare, and we provide services to Santa Barbara families at no cost to them. And we're able to do this through the generosity of masons, private donations, and grants we receive from community organizations. So we're honored to receive this recognition today, and we hope that awareness of dyslexia and the struggles it presents for students can be realized every single day. It is our hope that students with dyslexic receive the necessary intervention to help them become successful readers.

This allows them to build self-confidence and pursue their dreams. Thank you again for recognizing our efforts.

A2.

Chair Lavinino, members of the board, administrative item number two is sponsored by Supervisor Williams and Supervisor Hartman. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming September 15th 2019 through October 15th 2019 as Latinx Heritage Month in Santa Barbara County. And if I can have Andrea Medina, Anna Huynh, Chelsea Lancaster and Frank Rodriguez to the podium please?

Whereas National Latinx Heritage Month, also recognized as Hispanic Heritage Month, is a time to recognize the significant contributions and achievements of Latinx Americans who serve as leaders in business, media, government, the military, law, education, science, athletics, the arts and humanities, and other fields. And whereas Latinx Americans actively participate in our democratic institutions, including serving as elected representatives in the U.S. Congress, governors, judges, county supervisors, mayors, city council members, school board members and other essential public offices.

And whereas Latinx residents have an important role in our local economy and workforce, and whereas according to the census 45% of Santa Barbara County's population and 20% of the overall U.S. population is of Latinx origin, which contributes to our diverse heritage traditions and rich cultural fabric. And whereas in 1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson and Congress first celebrated the contributions of Latinx Americans by officially proclaiming the week of September 15th as Hispanic Heritage Week And in 1988 is expanded by President Ronald Reagan to its current month long celebration. And whereas the county of Santa Barbara celebrates Latin X cultural heritage traditions and contributions now therefore be it hereby ordered him resolve that this Board of Supervisors declare September 15th through October 15, 2019 as Latin X Heritage Month in Santa Barbara County.

And encourages all residents to celebrate Latinx heritage and recognize Latinx Americans as valued members and contributors to our society, past and adopted today.

Thank you very much. My name is Anna Nguyen, co-executive director of La Casa de la Raza with Andrea Medina and on behalf of La Casa de la Raza we would like to thank you for this resolution and ask for you to support our efforts to save our community center and its sacred land. We also thank you for opposing the leasing of county land from oil and gas extraction and ask that you protect this land. Thank you.

And we are here representing El Centro and just want to stand in solidarity in the asks that were made by Ana. We also want to acknowledge that we have a lot of work to do in our community, especially in terms of making sure that our spaces are safe for all communities, all Latinx communities including Afro-Latinx members, queer members, trans and nonbinary folks. So we have a lot of work to do and we're honored to be alongside folks like this doing it. Thank you.

A3 please.

Chair Lavinino and members of the board, administrative item number three is sponsored by Supervisor Hart. It is to adopt a resolution of commendation honoring Private First Class Arthur Peterson as the October 2019 Veteran of the Month in Santa Barbara County. And if I can have Private First Class Arthur Peterson to the podium please? And or his representative.

Hi, I'm Arthur's granddaughter and it's an honor here to be here for him. He's just getting over an illness so I'm stepping in for him. Great. I'll go ahead and read the resolution.

Thank

you.

Whereas Private First Class Arthur Art Peterson was born in Mexico City, Mexico on March 30th 1924 and moved to San Antonio Texas in 1925. And whereas Private First Class Peterson served in the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division during World War II as a paratrooper from 1943 to 1945. And whereas, Private First Class Peterson has been awarded two Purple Heart Medals, the Bronze Star Medal and the French Legion of Honor Medal in recognition of his heroism during D-Day, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

And whereas, Private First Class Peterson became a naturalized citizen of the United States while stationed in London, England two weeks before D-Day. And whereas after the war Private First Class Peterson moved to Santa Barbara where he married Gloria Davia Peterson his wife of 71 years. Whereas Private First Class Peterson and Mrs. Peterson have four children and are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. And whereas Private First Class Peterson owned and operated a local business for many years, was active at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, and was a dedicated volunteer with the Veterans Administration Clinic, Boy Scouts Troop 3, and many other local organizations. And whereas Private First Class Peterson and Mrs.

Peterson have attended reunions of the 101st Airborne Division and have returned to Europe for the commemoration of D-Day during 60th and 65th anniversaries. Now, therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors commends and recognizes the heroism of Private First Class Arthur Peterson by honoring him as the October 2019 Santa Barbara County Veteran of the Month passed and adopted today.

It's with great honor that I'm able to accept this on his behalf. He's been a big influence and he's a true soldier, thank you.

Thank you for being here. Supervisor Hart.

Yes, thank you Sonia for joining us today on behalf of your grandfather we are all we are all very grateful for arts bravery his sacrifice and his commitment to our country and particularly for his heroic acts of bravery during one of the most difficult In historic moments in our country's history and World War II. I think it is particularly noteworthy to mention that Art was naturalized as an American citizen after being born in Mexico two weeks before D-Day while he was in the service And after returning from his commitment to our country and military service, he was a very active volunteer here representing our veterans organizations. Working in the local church and the community in many different ways. So we are really honored to recognize him and thank you very much for attending in his place.

Please wish him all of our best wishes for his health, your whole family, and our great respect and gratitude for his service. Thank you for recognizing him. We all appreciate it.

A5.

Chair Lavinino and members of the board, administrative item number five is sponsored by Supervisor Hartman. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of October 2018 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Santa Barbara County. And if I can have Ed Tran, June English and Joy Agnon to the podium? And anyone else you'd like to join with you? All right. Whereas, in the U.S., one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and when breast cancer is detected early in a localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 98%. As a result, women should work with their medical providers to establish a plan to detect the disease in the early stages which includes regular mammograms, clinical breast exams and self-breast exams.

And whereas health care plans cover preventative services such as breast exams, the Public Health Department's Every Woman Counts program provides support for breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services for low-income women who do not have resources for this important service. And whereas in the past fiscal year, Santa Barbara County Every Woman Counts health educators provided 1,121 tri-county individuals with breast cancer education and referrals to free screenings This includes 105 immigrant MiSTech farm worker women in Santa Maria and Oxnard. In addition, provides women whom partnered with Every Woman Counts program conducted free breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for 6,490 Tri-County individuals. And whereas in the past fiscal year, Santa Barbara County's Every Woman Counts has provided 350 Tri-County women with screening assistance, navigation, and 34 Tri-County women received patient navigation services.

from the program's nursing staff to support patient compliance and eliminate barriers to timely screening, completion of diagnostic testing and facilitating referral for treatment. And whereas we are in support of Santa Barbara County's Every Woman Counts preventative efforts now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors does proclaim the month of October 2018 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote the health of all residents in the county of Santa Barbara passed and adopted today.

So Chair Lavagnino and members of the board, my name is Ed Tran. And I serve as the Assistant Deputy Director for Public Health in the Community Health Division. Thank you for the opportunity to be here to accept this proclamation and for your support to proclaim October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Locally, our Every Woman Counts program works with low income and at risk populations throughout the tri-counties area to educate and coordinate breast cancer screening and diagnostic services. The ultimate goal of the program is to increase the survival rate through early screening and detection of breast cancer. In addition, our small but mighty team work to assist women with navigating the challenges And barriers they may encounter throughout the process of screening, diagnostic testing and referral for treatment if indicated.

Originally we had planned on having two of our program staff be here today to accept this proclamation but due to unforeseen health circumstances one of them had to excuse herself. Instead I'd like to introduce you to two amazing people, one of which is our own staff and the other is our valued community partner. Both work to promote and ensure women in our community are aware and have access to early screening, testing, and treatment.

It is an honor to work alongside them as they are ever so passionate about the work they do to help address health equity and optimal health throughout our community. With that said, to my left is June English. June is our healthcare program coordinator who oversees and administers the program. And next to her is Christina de Bernardino who represents the Santa Barbara Breast Cancer Resource Center.

Dear Chairman Lavagnino and the rest of the members of the board, thank you again for recognizing our work. And we are actually a regional program. We cover three counties and so this is our busy month for outreach and education and navigation for the women in our area in Santa Barbara alone. We have an activity tonight. I'm up in Guadalupe on Saturday, my health educator is working in Isla Vista on Thursday and Friday. And we have some other screenings and activities here in Santa Barbara County. So we don't stop but this is our busiest time. But one of the most significant activities as Ed has alluded to has been the case management, we call it navigation. That we have undertaken. The state has looked at the outcomes and decided that we needed to do more besides just supporting the providers and educating the women, to support the women through the diagnostic process.

And we have partnered with the Santa Barbara Breast Cancer Resource Center since the 1990s when our program began at the state level and when they also were founded. We are both doing navigation so it's a partnership I think that has been beneficial to the women of Santa Barbara County In terms of providing a little extra reinforcement when they are needing enrollment and treatment services, as well as our usual role in navigation for diagnostic care. So I wanted to thank you all for your interest and support of our program.

Thank you very much for the recognition and especially for honoring the county in the Every Woman Counts program. The Breast Cancer Resource Center was founded in 1997 by a group of women who were experiencing breast cancer and needed to find a way to support one another. Today we serve women with education, with outreach With helping them find the resources that they need. While we recognize that this is a disease that can take a life, we also recognize that the opportunity for early detection is critically important and And it's so funny when women come through the door, or ironic I should say. They're like we didn't know you were here and it's because they didn't need to know we were here. So for over 20 years now, we've been able to be there and every service we provide the women is free.

And we are privately funded and we appreciate the recognition because when you need us, you need us. And so getting the word out is really important. Thank you so much.

A6?

Chair Lavinino and members of the board, administrative item number six is sponsored by Supervisor Hartman. It is to adopt a posthumous resolution of commendation for victim witness advocate Joan Fairfield for her 40 years of faithful and distinguished service to the citizens of Santa Barbara County. And if I can have our DA Joyce Dudley, Megan Riker-Reinschild, and Kelly Selmon, daughter to Joan Fairfield, to the podium please.

And anyone else you'd like to join with you? I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas, Joan Fairfield began her career with the County of Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office as a victim witness advocate in 1979 after an 18-year career as a stay at home mom. And whereas, Joan epitomized the ideal victim witness advocate with her keen ability to delicately balance an understanding of legal language but compassion for people scarred by violent crime. And whereas Joan helped to give thousands of victims a voice as they navigated through the criminal justice system. And whereas Joan's encouraging words were transformative in bringing hope to victims in the midst of devastating situations, giving them strength Encouraged to get through trials.

And whereas Joan will be deeply missed by her family, friends, co-workers and the many victims whose lives she touched. Now therefore it is hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors posthumously recognizes Joan Fairfield for her 40 years of faithful and distinguished services to the citizens of Santa Barbara County passed and adopted today

Chair Lavagnino, members of the board. I stand before you but hardly alone. There are many members of the District Attorney's Office here in Santa Maria if you guys would stand up in Santa Maria and here in Santa Barbara aside from the back row please stand up for your member of the District Attorney's Office. And as I said that beautiful back row and stay standing if you're a member of law enforcement would you also stand up?

And here's Jones family. Thank you very much. Wisdom and warmth. And warmth and wisdom. Joan always led with one, and then quickly followed with the other. That was who Joan was. She was a guardian angel to countless victims in her over 40 years as a member of the District Attorney's Office And she was a warrior when it came to justice and a law enforcement official who died in the line of duty.

I can't think of a person who is more loved for a longer time than Joan Fairfield in our office, and it was my honor to serve with her. Also with me today is Megan Reinchild. Megan started out as Joan's mentee and ended up as her adoring supervisor. Megan?

It's a heavy, heavy day. We would have preferred for Joan to be here but we believe in our hearts and spirits that she is here with us. If you'll allow me to make a few comments about what she meant to the community, to her family and to the many, many thousands of victims that she served. Before Joan left in May on leave, she proudly told me that she was the second most senior employee in the county.

She also often proclaimed that she loved her job and would keep on doing it as long as she could still help people. And that is exactly what she did up until the end. She stood alongside individuals during the darkest chapters of their lives. She embraced the work serving others as a gift, as a true gift. She never took it for granted and in fact she viewed witnessing people's resilience in the face of darkness is a true privilege.

She had the unbelievable ability to say the right thing at the right times. And still after 25 years, many of us who worked in the office alongside her myself included would say what would you say to a victim experiencing this or that? She always knew the right thing to say. She shined a glimmer of light on the other side of countless hearings, interviews and sometimes a jury trial even when the finality of the criminal justice system didn't bring closure. And it often didn't.

It can't be overstated Joan's contributions not just to those who became victims of crime but also as important her co-workers Generations of law enforcement officers, DAs, investigators, legal professionals and her victim witness colleagues. Her office was conveniently located on the first floor of the DA's office near the entry, exit and elevator. Often the door was open to anyone who needed to vent, share, review a case or just get some Joan Sage advice personal or professional.

There was never a rush she would always stop what she was doing to listen and be present for whomever was in front of her. A lesson that I'm afraid is lost on many of us in the hurry of everyday life. During the last three months of her life, she didn't express fear or regret but a profound sense of gratitude. She would happily say I had a wonderful life and this was due to creating a deliberately purposeful life here at the county but also giving of herself to her family and to her friends.

If she were here today, she would be saying thank you to the community, to the county for affording her the best job she could have asked for. But today we say thank you to her with a belief that she's here in spirit reminding us of the importance of public service and pausing to listen Show love and lend a helping hand. Thank you.

Hello members of the board I am Joan Fairfield's grandson First of all, I'd like to just thank you for the recognition and award I know that my grandma was so strong in her faith, so much that she would tell each and every single one of you that there's 99.9% good in every single person. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are what you're doing or what's going on in your life.

So try and believe that in your heart of hearts that there's always some good in somebody. If you ever met my grandma Just remember one thing that she did and something that stood out in her, so that way we can continue her legacy in some way. But just thank you so much for the recognition and I know she's looking and she's here and she is just happy and smiling. So thank you very much.

A7 please.

Chair Lavinino, members of the board. Administrative item number seven is sponsored by Supervisor Hartman and it's to adopt a resolution recognizing the creative community building and artistic contributions of Los Alamos resident Jeffrey Bloom in Santa Barbara County. And if I can have Jeffrey and Carol Bloom to the podium? I'll go ahead and read the resolution.

Hello.

Whereas Jeffrey and Carol Bloom moved to Los Alamos in 2012, settling in to enjoy its quiet small town charm after decades of living in Los Angeles. And whereas while in Los Angeles, Jeffrey was a screenwriter, director, photographer, and producer in Hollywood making features in television movies but also wrote screenplays, theatrical plays stories, poems and even a book or two.

And whereas in rekindling his love of photography Jeffrey decided to author a 200 page book called Characters with the logline expats rascals renegades iconoclasts adventurers escape artists reinventors entrepreneurs farmers rugged individualists and other neighbors visitors and friends A collection of snapshots and portraits taken during a period of 14 months in Los Alamos, a community of around 1,800 souls living more interestingly than one might think at the north end of California's beautiful San Ynez Valley. And whereas after publishing characters Jeffrey has followed up with subsequent additions that now include 440 portraits of Los Alamos residents. And whereas in addition to publishing portraits of Los Alamos residents, Jeffrey and Carol Bloom have started a community theater that has produced three plays and encourages all local talent of all acting abilities to participate.

Let it hereby be resolved that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors recognizes their artistic contributions and projects that Jeffrey Bloom undertakes in an effort to engage the arts community in Los Alamos, and to shine a light on the lives of everyday residents of this special community passed and adopted today.

And there is a Los Alamos contingent here. When Carol and Jeffrey Bloom moved to Los Alamos in 2012 from Los Angeles, Carol was a joiner. She joined the meds club, the library board, the kids summer in the park, the senior center board. Jeffrey not so much. He could be found circling the perimeter camera in hand. The Los Alamos community has an influx of new residents, many from the more urban LA area and it may not have been so easy for long-term residents some with generational roots, some who prefer to stay quietly in the background but through his portraits collected in this book Jeffrey let people know we see you, we honor you and you are amazing I had an opportunity to be at the Old Days Parade a couple weeks ago and I had a copy of this book.

Lots of people, you can see there's a signature on the front, lots of people were so excited they came to sign their picture in the book. And I actually am in the book too! So very exciting. You know, art helps us see the everyday and the familiar in new ways. And even old-timers in Los Alamos began to see themselves in new ways. But Jeffrey wasn't content to stop with having his neighbors be the subjects of his art.

Unlike Santa Maria and the PCPA where they're well known for their dramatic talent, Los Alamos has not been known for its actors and its theater. But that has just begun to change. Jeffrey has written and directed three plays. Just last Sunday I attended a crazy talented sold out house in which the dramatic talent of Los Alamos has blossomed and residents have become artists themselves. Jeffrey is a community builder and his work shows the role that art can play in weaving together the fabric of a community. Los Alamos is stronger, healthier, more resilient, a lot more fun for his efforts. He has greatly enhanced that wonderful sense that we all seek of belonging.

Thanks. I didn't know that I was going to be given an opportunity to say anything, so I'm a writer who didn't write anything but I'm gonna improvise a little bit first Carol I would never I could never do this without Carol my wife and inspiration and the support and encouragement of lots of friends A number of whom came here today, surprising. And I do what I do for the joy of doing it and the challenge and being honored for it is just really the icing on the cake. Thank you very much for all the trouble and Joan for all the wonderful words.

I'm happy to be here and thank you very much.

All right, very good. So we have a number of items that have been pulled. So so far my list is A4, A5, 11, 17, 19, 20 and 23. So are there any other ones besides those that have come from the public? Does that cover it?

Chair Lavendy, no members of the board,

that is it. Okay, so then can I get a motion to move the balance of the agenda I got a 17. Yep, so balance of the agenda. So moved second moved and seconded roll call please

Mr Williams. Hi Mr Hart Miss Hartman. Hi Mr Adam.

Hi

chair Levin you know

hi okay we'll move to take them in order a four please yeah

Chair Lavinino, members of the board. Administrative item number four is sponsored by Supervisor Hart. It is to adopt a resolution opposing the leasing of federal public lands in Santa Barbara County for oil and gas development as part of the Bureau of Lands Management's resource management plan for the Bakersfield region. All

right, and we have one from the public on that? Do you want to lead off, Supervisor

Hart? Let's have public comment first. Okay,

let's go to the public first.

Chair Lavinino, members of the board. We actually have two requests to speak on this item and that is in Santa Maria. And we're going to begin with Seth Steiner to be followed by Andy Caldwell. Seth?

Good morning. Can you hear me? Yes,

we can.

Okay, as a North County resident I want to thank Supervisor Hart for his important resolution and for the support of those supervisors who also oppose the leasing of these federal public lands for oil and gas development and fracking. As for hydraulic fracturing, there are many well-documented concerns about its disastrous effects. Even its proponents concede that it can contaminate our water, pollute our air and lead to dangerous levels of seismic activity.

Further, oil operations and their extensive infrastructure would increase the risk of calamitous forest fires. All this in the pursuit of short term profit for a few and more oil and gas than we need or can ever safely use like to underline that. We don't need this oil. We are, after all, in the midst of climate change regardless of what some might like to believe and the ongoing and inevitable energy transition of our economy with its many opportunities for jobs and economic growth.

The BLM scheme results from foolish and myopic rush of the current administration in Washington to roll back health and environmental standards that protect us all. We depend on our county supervisors for decisions that will encourage our economy to grow in safe, smart and sustainable ways. Ways that bring more good jobs and a wholesome and hopeful environment for our youth while promoting less not more cancer and emphysema.

While the board may not have it within its power to block outright this ill considered plan from Washington through the BLM, we rely on you and other agencies of our government. To do everything possible to place roadblocks to protect the county and its people. From the countless negative effects of this alien BLM proposal Thank you

Okay, so thank You but we don't We're not gonna have any clapping or booing if you like something That's what we do. Go ahead

and we're going to stay in Santa Maria for Andy Caldwell Andy

Chair Lavendino, members of the board. I'm Andy Caldwell representing COLAB. This is what we call virtue signaling in an echo chamber. You need to come out of that echo chamber and see what's actually going on in the real world that it represents, the state of California. Point number one, California imports more oil than any other state in the continental United States.

So you can pretend, you can virtue signal all you want. But we're not using less oil or gas in this state. We continue to use more and the more that you try to shut down the oil and gas industry in the State of California, the more oil we import from countries that are producing it with less environmental regulations or concerns. We support what's called wise use in our forests. And the bottom line here is unlike what Seth Steiner said, the fact of the matter is when you allow wise use including oil and gas operations in forested areas They create roads, those roads create access for firefighters and they also serve as fuel breaks.

And unfortunately, Salute Carbohol has been trying to up the protection in the forest which would make it even harder for us to fight fires and prevent fires. The other thing going on here, of course is many of you consider yourselves progressives and that you care for the poor. But you cannot defend the fact that California's electricity and gasoline prices are 50% higher than the rest of the country. And the poor their energy needs are something It takes a bigger portion of their income than anything else, especially when they have to have long commutes. So you're not helping the environment or the poor. And then finally, and I challenge any one of you to put this on the agenda. I've asked for this number of times before.

You claim you've jumped on the AOC sky is falling bandwagon that we got 10 to 12 years to save the planet. But you're still using concrete and you're still using asphalt in road construction projects, building projects throughout this region. I simply am asking you for a plan on how and what you're going to use other than asphalt and concrete. It's not a hard question. The other question we keep asking you is, show us a map of what Santa Barbara County would look like if we built all the wind and solar we need to get off the grid? Just show us a map. Schedule this for an agenda to prove that you're not just doing cheap talk. To appeal to your base when you have no plan because there is no plan. Thank you.

Is that the

end of public comment?

And that's our final speaker

on that item. Okay, I forgot we do need to read this into the record so let's go ahead and read the resolution into the record please.

Great, Chair Lavagnino and members of the board if I can have Rebecca August and Jeff Kuyper to the podium and anyone else you'd like to join with you?

There is one more public comment here in Santa Maria for the record.

Okay, we'll take that after it we read the resolution and thank you.

And I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas the Bureau of Land Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior oversees the leasing of federal lands and mineral estates in California for oil and gas production, and whereas in April of 2019, the Bureau of Land Management announced plans to initiate the leasing of federal public lands for new oil and gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing projects as part of an amendment to the resource management plan for the Bakersfield region And whereas, if approved this will end a five year moratorium on the leasing of federal public lands in California for new oil and gas development projects. And whereas the Bakersfield region includes the counties of Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Madera, Kern, Kings, Fresno and Tulare.

And whereas 122,000 acres of federal public land in Santa Barbara County are being considered for new oil and gas development including parcels adjacent to Los Padres National Forest. And near Lake Kachuma, Halama Beach, Refugio Pass and Nahui County Park. And whereas making federal public lands available for new oil and gas development leases that may include hydraulic fracturing poses a risk for the quality of Santa Barbara County's water, air, open space and public health. And whereas opening up federal public lands for new oil and gas development leases will further exacerbate Local greenhouse gas emissions, which is contrary to the county's energy and climate action plan. Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors opposes the Bureau of Land Management's proposed amendment to the resource management plan for the Bakersfield region that would allow for up to 122,000 acres of new leasing a federal public lands for oil and gas development including hydraulic fracturing within Santa Barbara County passed and adopted today.