Meeting Summary
Present: 5-Lavagnino, Williams, 3-Hartmann, 4-Nelson
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
Preliminary Budget Overview and Cannabis Revenue Policy
- Total operating revenues are projected to increase by 12.9% to $1.34 billion, supported by federal and state funding including $43 million from ARPA.
- A proposed policy change would allow 75% of cannabis revenue to be used for ongoing purposes after a 25% reserve, with the remainder for one-time needs.
- Supervisors discussed the trade-offs between funding visible one-time projects and stabilizing ongoing operations without taking a motion.
Public Defender’s Office Budget
- The office highlighted challenges related to case backlogs, outdated IT infrastructure, and staffing constraints while advocating for data transparency.
- A temporary cloud-based storage solution funded by a $900,000 grant was proposed alongside requests for IT and fiscal support expansion.
- Board members inquired about data sharing mechanisms, racial justice efforts, and disparities in justice outcomes between North and South County.
District Attorney’s Office Budget
- The office focused on the historic case backlog, recruitment challenges, and the need for digital storage and case management system upgrades.
- Five expansion requests were submitted, including an e-SCARS Coordinator, Discovery Clerks, and staffing for the Post-Conviction Litigation Unit.
- Discussions covered diversion rates, the impact of prosecuting misdemeanors, and efforts to reduce racial disparities in charging decisions.
Fire Department Budget
- The department reported an operating budget of $93 million and a capital budget of $1.6 million, noting that 10 of its 16 stations are over 50 years old.
- Key topics included preparation for a competitive bid for ambulance transport services and capital projects such as the Kuyama fire station.
- Plans were outlined to hire a consultant for a comprehensive capital improvement plan and to continue fuels reduction efforts.
Fiscal Year 2022 Federal Legislative Funding Requests
- Staff recommended five Community Project Funding projects and three Surface Transportation Reauthorization projects for FY 2022.
- The Board authorized the Chair to sign funding request letters and determined the actions are not a project under CEQA.
- The motion to accept the staff recommendation passed via a unanimous voice vote.
Probation Department Budget
- The proposed operating budget of approximately $63.2 million includes $31.2 million from the General Fund and $1.9 million in efficiency-related reductions.
- Operational updates covered the upcoming DJJ realignment, increased pretrial supervision populations, and the implementation of the Nexus cloud-based system.
- Board members inquired about the department's ability to support a potential felony diversion program and the future of Santa Maria Juvenile Hall.
Sheriff’s Office Budget
- The operating budget reflects an $11 million increase, addressing challenges such as a structural staffing deficit and delays in the Northern Branch Jail opening.
- Expansion requests included a data analyst, a second cannabis compliance team, and ongoing funding for body-worn cameras.
- Board members discussed technology improvements, opioid enforcement, and performance measures for mental health response without taking a motion.
Special Issues – Jail Population, Diversion, and Collaborative Justice
- Presentations from multiple agencies focused on improving the speed, efficiency, and fairness of the criminal justice system and diverting offenders from jail.
- The District Attorney’s Office noted that 55% of cases presented for filing were removed from the traditional criminal justice system in 2020.
- The Board agreed to allow the criminal justice group to continue its work and return with a progress report in 60 days.
Main Jail Staffing and Facility Assessment Alternatives
- Data showed a decline in Average Daily Population (ADP) from over 1,000 in 2016 to 728 in 2020, though these numbers are artificially low due to pandemic measures.
- The Sheriff’s Office warned that permanently closing areas and reducing staffing would make it difficult to reopen them if ADP rises.
- Supervisor Williams requested a plan for jail closures to save capital costs, while Sheriff Brown stated significant changes cannot be made until realistic post-pandemic ADP is known.
Jail Capacity, Public Safety, and Diversion Programs
- The Senior Deputy District Attorney indicated a best-case scenario of late summer or early fall for the new jail opening.
- Local police chiefs requested that the Board ensure the jail retains sufficient capacity to handle surges and allow flexibility regarding closures.
- The Board expressed confidence that a plan would be developed within 60 days to integrate various criminal justice components.
Full summary
Meeting Overview
- The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors convened on April 12, 2021, for the first day of the FY 2021-2022 budget workshops. The session included roll call, announcements regarding public participation via Zoom, and a County Executive Officer’s report. The CEO presented an overview of the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic outlook, and preliminary budget figures. The day focused on the Public Safety functional group, including presentations from the Public Defender, District Attorney, Fire Department, Probation, and Sheriff’s Office, as well as special issues regarding jail population, diversion, and staffing.
Agenda Item: Preliminary Budget Overview and Cannabis Revenue Policy
- The County Executive Officer’s office presented the preliminary budget overview, noting that total operating revenues are expected to increase by 12.9% to $1.34 billion, driven by federal and state funding, including $43 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Total operating expenditures are expected to increase by 7.3%. The presentation outlined expansion requests, excluded requests, maintenance funding, and ARPA funding eligibility.
- A discussion ensued regarding the proposed policy change for cannabis revenue, which would allow 75% of annual revenue to be used for ongoing purposes after a 25% reserve, and 25% for one-time needs. Supervisors discussed the trade-offs between using revenue for visible one-time projects versus stabilizing ongoing operations. No motion was taken on this item during this segment.
Agenda Item: Public Defender’s Office Budget
- The Public Defender’s Office presented its budget, highlighting challenges related to case backlogs, outdated IT infrastructure, and staffing constraints. The office advocated for data transparency, citing a partnership with "Measures for Justice" as a model for public data dashboards. It proposed a temporary cloud-based storage solution funded by a $900,000 grant and requested expansion for IT and fiscal support. The office also discussed its "holistic defense" model, which includes housing, treatment, and reentry services.
- Board members asked questions regarding data sharing mechanisms, racial justice efforts, and disparities in justice outcomes between North and South County. No motions were moved, seconded, or voted upon during this segment.
Agenda Item: District Attorney’s Office Budget
- The District Attorney’s Office presented its budget, focusing on the historic case backlog, recruitment challenges, and technological demands, including the need for a digital storage system upgrade and implementation of the eSCARS and Case Management Systems. The office reported referring approximately 11% of misdemeanor cases to diversion programs and clarified that a previously cited 49% figure referred to the broader "off-ramping" of backlog cases. The office submitted five expansion requests, including an e-SCARS Coordinator, Discovery Clerks, and staffing for the Post-Conviction Litigation Unit.
- Board members discussed the diversion rates, the impact of prosecuting misdemeanors, and efforts to reduce racial disparities. The District Attorney stated that race does not influence charging decisions and highlighted prevention programs. No motions were moved, seconded, or voted upon during this segment.
Agenda Item: Fire Department Budget
- The Fire Department presented its operational status, budget, and capital improvements. The department reported an operating budget of $93 million and a capital budget of $1.6 million. Key topics included the preparation for a competitive bid for ambulance transport services, capital projects such as the Kuyama fire station and Regional Fire Communications Facility, and fuels reduction efforts. The department noted that 10 of its 16 stations are over 50 years old and indicated plans to hire a consultant for a comprehensive capital improvement plan. No motions were moved, seconded, or voted upon during this segment.
Agenda Item D2: Fiscal Year 2022 Federal Legislative Funding Requests
- Staff presented recommendations for FY 2022 federal legislative funding requests, including five Community Project Funding projects (e.g., Veterans Building upgrades, Tunnel Road Sewer Extension) and three Surface Transportation Reauthorization projects (e.g., MODOC multi-use paths, Farm to Market roads). Staff clarified that these requests are distinct from the proposed federal infrastructure package.
- Motion: Supervisor Hartman moved to accept the staff recommendation to authorize the Chair to sign funding request letters and determine that the actions are not a project under CEQA.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Decision: The motion passed.
- Vote Outcome: Passed (unanimous voice vote).
Agenda Item D1: Probation Department Budget
- Chief Probation Officer Tanya Heitman presented the proposed operating budget of approximately $63.2 million, including $31.2 million from the General Fund. The department implemented approximately $1.9 million in efficiency-related reductions to offset the loss of fees resulting from AB 1869. Key operational updates included the upcoming DJJ realignment, increased pretrial supervision populations due to bail reform, and the implementation of a cloud-based system called Nexus. The department achieved 100% compliance in the first virtual National Commission on Correctional Healthcare accreditation review.
- Board members inquired about the department's ability to support a potential felony diversion program, data transparency, and the future of Santa Maria Juvenile Hall. No motion was taken in this section.
Agenda Item D1: Sheriff’s Office Budget
- Sheriff Brown presented the Sheriff’s Office budget, noting an $11 million increase in the operating budget compared to the current fiscal year. Key challenges included the impact of the pandemic, a structural staffing deficit, delays in the Northern Branch Jail opening, and the need to remodel the main jail. The budget includes increases for salaries and benefits, services and supplies, and general liability. The office requested expansion for a data analyst, a second cannabis compliance team, and ongoing funding for body-worn cameras.
- Board members discussed technology improvements, opioid enforcement, performance measures for mental health response, electronic monitoring, and cannabis compliance. Public comment was received from 24 individuals, with speakers advocating for various positions regarding budget allocation, data transparency, and community-based alternatives to incarceration. No motion was taken in this section.
Agenda Item: Special Issues – Jail Population, Diversion, and Collaborative Justice
- The CEO introduced a special issue focusing on improving the speed, efficiency, and fairness of the criminal justice system, diverting offenders from jail, and reducing recidivism. Presentations were provided by the Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, and Public Defender’s Office.
- Sheriff’s Office: Highlighted progressive policies to reduce recidivism, including co-response teams and evidence-based programming. Emphasized the need for adequate jail capacity to handle surges in arrests.
- Probation Department: Described a continuum of diversion levels, from pre-arrest to post-conviction, and the use of risk-need tools to match individuals with appropriate interventions.
- District Attorney’s Office: Described the Pre-Arraignment Settlement Court and Treatment Courts, noting that 55% of cases presented for filing were removed from the traditional criminal justice system in 2020.
- Public Defender’s Office: Discussed barriers to diversion, including a lack of community-based treatment beds and housing, and the complexity of creating diversion plans.
- Board members discussed the need for precise data, identification of service delivery gaps, and the expansion of community-based services. Judge Ellsworth reported on the progress of data collection and the formation of "action pods" to implement changes. The Board agreed to allow the criminal justice group to continue its work and return with a progress report in 60 days. No formal motion or vote was recorded.
Agenda Item: Main Jail Staffing and Facility Assessment Alternatives
- Staff presented background on previous staffing studies and the recent drop in Average Daily Population (ADP). The Sheriff’s Office presented data showing a decline in ADP from over 1,000 in 2016 to 728 in 2020, noting that these numbers are artificially low due to pandemic measures and the emergency bail schedule. The office warned that permanently closing areas and reducing staffing would make it difficult to reopen them if ADP rises.
- Board members discussed the need for a definitive plan for reducing staffing and closing jail wings, tied to specific ADP levels. Supervisor Williams requested a plan for jail closures to save capital costs and reinvest in community public safety. Sheriff Brown stated that significant changes cannot be made until the realistic ADP is known post-pandemic. No formal motion or vote was recorded.
Agenda Item: Jail Capacity, Public Safety, and Diversion Programs (Public Comment and Discussion)
- The Senior Deputy District Attorney addressed questions regarding the timeline for the new jail opening, indicating a best-case scenario of late summer or early fall. Three local police chiefs provided testimony regarding jail capacity and crime trends, requesting that the Board ensure the jail retains sufficient capacity to handle surges and allow the Sheriff flexibility regarding jail closures until an assessment is completed.
- Five members of the public provided comments, advocating for the expansion of diversion programs, improved staffing for mental health outreach teams, and integrated treatment systems. Board members noted the level of agreement among partners and the need to "trust but verify" the progress made. The Board expressed confidence that a plan would be developed within 60 days to integrate the various criminal justice components.
- No formal motions were moved, seconded, or voted upon during this segment. The Clerk announced that an addendum would be posted to move certain budget items to the Friday agenda. The meeting was adjourned to Wednesday, April 14, 2021, for the second day of the budget workshops.