Meeting Summary
Present: 4-Nelson, 5-Lavagnino, 3-Hartmann, 2-Capps, Williams
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
CEO Report: Car Seat Safety Partnership
- The CEO reported on a partnership between the Fire Department and Cottage Hospital regarding infant car seat safety.
- A recent inspection at Fire Station 11 found that 100% of 37 inspected seats were installed incorrectly.
- All inspected seats were reinstalled, two expired seats were replaced, and plans for a spring event were announced.
Agenda Changes and Administrative Updates
- The Clerk announced corrections to Administrative Items 43 and 47 and amendments to Item 37.
- New Administrative Items 50–54 were added, and Departmental Item 2 was amended for a second reading on March 14.
- Departmental Item 4 regarding the Dignity Hopes Move Village program was added to the agenda.
- The Chair pulled several administrative items, and the board approved the balance of the agenda to allow staff to return to duties.
Goleta Beach Pier Structural Inspection
- Staff reported that January storms caused damage to the pier, including missing pilings and crossmembers.
- An engineering report is expected by the end of the month, after which repairs will begin.
- Staff estimated pier repairs could be completed before summer, while broader beach restoration may take up to 1.5 years.
- Adaptive planning measures, such as removing a lift station, are being implemented to mitigate climate change impacts.
Human Resources Policies
- Supervisor Labanino raised questions about the hybrid remote work policy, specifically regarding supervisor training and accountability.
- Staff clarified that the policy revision primarily concerns out-of-state employees and labor issues.
- Staff confirmed that remote employees must remain accessible to the public and that training for supervising hybrid workforces exists.
- Supervisor Labanino suggested making supervisor training mandatory and noted the policy is a work in progress.
Buena Vista Debris Basin
- A homeowner expressed concern that the proposed basin would occupy nearly half an acre of her property and impact its value.
- The Chair acknowledged the lack of disclosure by the seller and emphasized the community need for the basin following the 2018 debris flow.
- Staff indicated that suggestions from the public had been taken seriously during the planning process.
Village Square Subdivision Flood Control Agreement
- Public comment was divided, with opponents citing outdated environmental reviews and climate risks, while supporters argued the item implements an already approved project.
- Supervisor Labanino stated he did not find a defensible mechanism to deny the agreement but committed to continuing work on additional public improvements.
- The board approved the agreement along with other administrative items, noting that 85% of the flood control improvements benefit the community.
Socorro Data Analytics Contract
- The District Attorney presented a proposal to contract with Socorro Data Analytics to improve data accuracy and sharing capabilities.
- The contract supports compliance with state laws, including the J Data Law and Racial Justice Act.
- The Public Defender and the county’s criminal justice consultant supported the initiative, clarifying that the contract does not include payment for expert testimony.
- The board approved the recommended actions to adopt the contract.
Board of Architectural Review Jurisdictional Alignment
- Supervisor Nelson proposed aligning the jurisdictional boundaries of the Central and North Boards of Architectural Review with current district maps.
- The goal is to ensure appointees are selected by the Supervisor representing the geographic area, specifically bringing Los Alamos under NBAR jurisdiction.
- Staff confirmed that the appointment process would not change, only the geographic alignment of the text and maps.
- Following the vote, Supervisor Nelson announced the appointment of Michael Nicola as the first NBAR member representing Los Alamos.
2023 Legislative Funding Critical Projects List
- Staff presented the 2023 Legislative Funding Critical Projects List, which includes 28 projects and four budget goals.
- Supervisor Nielsen requested the addition of the Oasis Senior Center project to the list to support advocacy for unincorporated areas.
- Supervisor Capps asked if non-capital projects, such as outreach funding for the Earned Income Tax Credit, could be included.
- The board approved the list with the addition of the Oasis project to Appendix A and the potential addition of an EITC initiative.
Dignity Moves Hope Village Project
- Staff presented a proposal for a temporary interim supportive housing initiative at 2131 Southside Parkway in Santa Maria.
- The project will feature 94 cabins for homeless individuals, transitional age youth, and recuperative care, with a total cost of $6.4 million.
- Supervisor Nelson requested that the Board commit to seeking a new location for the project after the five-year lease term expires.
- The board approved the ground lease and development management agreement, authorizing the Chair to execute the documents.
Closed Session
- The board met in closed session to address existing litigation involving the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.
- The board also conferred with labor negotiators for the Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and SCIU Local 620.
- The board stated that it took no reportable action during these sessions.
Full summary
Meeting Start and Roll Call
- The February 28, 2023, meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors was called to order. The Clerk of the Board called the roll, and all five supervisors (Nelson, Labanino, Hartman, Capps, and Chair Williams) were present. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
- Item: Approval of the minutes from the February 14, 2023, meeting.
- Discussion: A motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded.
- Decision: The motion passed.
CEO Report
- Item: Announcement regarding infant and child car seat safety.
- Discussion: The CEO reported on a partnership between the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. A recent inspection event at Fire Station 11 in Goleta found that 100% of 37 inspected car seats were installed incorrectly; all were reinstalled, and two expired seats were replaced. The Fire Department announced plans for another spring event and provided contact information for scheduling car seat checks.
Clerk’s Announcements and Agenda Changes
- Item: Administrative and Departmental agenda updates.
- Discussion: The Clerk announced corrections to Administrative Items 43 and 47. An addendum posted on February 24, 2023, amended Administrative Item 37 (Social Services) and added Administrative Items 50–54 (County Executive Office and Public Works/Health). Departmental Item 2 was amended to hear a second reading on March 14, 2023, and Departmental Item 4 (General Services, Dignity Hopes Move Village program) was added.
- Item: Administrative Item 16 (Appointment of General Services Director).
- Discussion: The Clerk provided the required oral report under the Brown Act regarding the recommendation for the appointment of the County of Santa Barbara General Services Director, noting a biweekly pay rate of approximately $8,600 plus benefits effective March 6, 2023.
- Item: Public Participation.
- Discussion: The Clerk outlined methods for public participation, including virtual comment via Zoom and phone, and provided contact information for the Clerk’s Office.
Agenda Pulls and Balance of Agenda Motion
- Item: Removal of specific agenda items.
- Discussion: The Chair pulled Administrative Items 9, 8, 20, 38, 36, and 37. Supervisor Labanino pulled Administrative Item 22. The Chair requested a motion to approve the balance of the agenda (excluding the pulled items) to allow staff to return to their duties.
- Decision: The motion to approve the balance of the agenda was made, seconded, and passed.
Administrative Item 1: Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
- Item: Consideration of recommendations regarding the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Popular Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.
- Discussion: Supervisor Labanino stated he pulled the item to congratulate the Auditor-Controller’s office on the report, noting its utility for public speaking and its clear presentation. The Chair noted that no separate vote was required. Supervisor Hartman asked if hard copies would be distributed; staff indicated they would inquire with the Auditor-Controller, who typically prints copies.
- Decision: No separate vote was taken; the item was considered part of the balance of the agenda approved earlier.
Administrative Item 9: Goleta Beach Pier Structural Inspection
- Item: Consideration of recommendations regarding a professional services contract for the structural inspection of the Goleta Beach Pier.
- Discussion: Supervisor Capps requested an update on the restoration of Goleta Beach following recent storms. Staff reported that January storms caused damage to the pier, including missing pilings and crossmembers. An engineering report from Bengal Engineering is expected by the end of the month, after which repairs will begin. Staff also discussed the restoration of the lawn area, which was delayed by the removal of an abandoned gas line by SoCal Gas (completed in December 2022). Staff estimated that pier repairs could be completed before summer, with broader beach restoration potentially taking one to one and a half years. Staff noted adaptive planning measures, such as removing a lift station and making a hard sewer connection, to mitigate climate change impacts. Supervisor Capps thanked staff for their responsiveness to community inquiries.
- Decision: No separate vote was taken; the item was considered part of the balance of the agenda approved earlier.
Administrative Item 22: Human Resources Policies
- Item: Consideration of recommendations regarding policies affecting terms and conditions of employment.
- Discussion: Supervisor Labanino raised questions about the hybrid remote work policy, specifically regarding supervisor training and accountability for employees with public-facing roles. Staff responded that the policy revision primarily concerns out-of-state employees and labor issues, but acknowledged that training for supervising hybrid workforces exists. Staff confirmed that remote employees must remain accessible to the public. Supervisor Labanino suggested making supervisor training mandatory and noted the policy is a work in progress.
- Decision: No separate vote was taken; the item was considered part of the balance of the agenda approved earlier.
Administrative Item 30: Buena Vista Debris Basin
- Item: Consideration of recommendations regarding the Buena Vista Debris Basin Final Mitigated Negative Declaration.
- Discussion: Public comment was provided by Debbie Moore, a homeowner at 915 Park Lane, who stated she purchased the property unaware of the proposed basin. She requested a swift decision on how her property would be handled, noting the basin would occupy nearly half an acre and impact property value. The Chair responded that staff had taken suggestions seriously, acknowledged the lack of disclosure by the seller, and emphasized the community need for the basin following the 2018 debris flow. No separate vote was requested.
- Decision: No separate vote was taken; the item was considered part of the balance of the agenda approved earlier.
Administrative Item 36: Village Square Subdivision (Flood Control Agreement)
- Item: Consideration of recommendations regarding the Village Square subdivision flood control agreement.
- Discussion: Public comment was extensive, with speakers divided on the project.
- Opposition: Several speakers argued that the 2005 Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was outdated and did not account for current climate change risks, such as atmospheric rivers and increased flooding. They requested a subsequent EIR, citing CEQA requirements for discretionary projects and new information. Speakers expressed concerns about water diversion to San Antonio Creek, impacts on local agriculture, and procedural errors regarding street vacations and mitigation agreements.
- Support: Speakers argued that the item before the board is an agreement to implement conditions of an already approved project, not a new discretionary approval. They stated that supplemental environmental review is not legally required at this stage. They highlighted benefits including $2.4 million in flood control infrastructure, development impact fees, and improvements to local drainage that mitigate pre-project conditions. They noted that 85% of the flood control improvements benefit the community, while 15% benefit the development.
- Board Discussion: Supervisor Labanino stated that despite hearing community concerns and working with staff to find mechanisms for additional environmental review, he did not find a defensible mechanism to deny the agreement. He indicated he was ready to approve the agreement but committed to continuing work with the developer on additional public improvements and potential FEMA grant partnerships. Supervisor Hartman was next to speak, but the transcript ends before her comments are recorded.
- Decision: The transcript ends before a final vote or decision is recorded for this item.
Flood Control Drainage Project (Los Alamos)
- Discussion: The Board discussed the timing of conditions regarding public versus private drainage improvements. Staff clarified that private improvements on private property required agreements prior to recordation (completed in November 2022), while the current agreement involves an off-site improvement on a county flood control easement, which is a public improvement that can be addressed after recordation. Staff noted that the project addresses drainage issues in the Calaveras Canyon area, contributing to regional flood control benefits.
- Ex Parte Disclosure: Supervisors disclosed ex parte communications. Supervisor Capps raised concerns regarding the implementation of new state campaign finance laws (SB 1439) and requested clarity on transparency and recusal processes. Staff indicated that this topic could be placed on a future agenda for discussion with the FPPC. Other Supervisors disclosed receiving emails and meeting with residents and applicants.
- Motion: A motion was made to approve items A1, A9, A22, A30, A36, and A37.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Vote Outcome: Passed.
General Public Comment
- Criminal Justice/Jail Issues: Multiple speakers representing the CLU Santa Barbara Criminal Justice Work Group and the League of Women Voters addressed the Board regarding the South County Jail. They requested that the Board direct the design team to plan for a reduced jail population (approximately 550 people), compare costs and timelines for remodeling the South County Jail versus expanding the North County Jail, and implement a live data tracking system for community-based alternatives to incarceration. Speakers also advocated for funding early representation programs for public defenders and equitable access to evidence.
- Public Safety/Infrastructure: One speaker from Guadalupe raised concerns regarding homelessness enforcement, the increased cost of road repairs on the Guadalupe River levee, and a shortage of police officers in the City of Guadalupe, requesting county assistance in public safety.
- Staff Response: Staff indicated that updates on jail planning would likely occur in April, either as a standalone item or during budget workshops.
Departmental Item 1: Agreement with Socorro Data Analytics LLC (District Attorney’s Office)
- Discussion: The District Attorney presented a proposal to contract with Socorro Data Analytics LLC to improve data accuracy, normalization, and sharing capabilities. The DA stated that the contract would support compliance with state laws (including the J Data Law and Racial Justice Act) and enhance the forward-facing data dashboard. Dr. Greg D’Angelo of Socorro Data Analytics explained that the firm would clean and analyze data without providing predetermined conclusions or expert testimony under this specific contract. The Public Defender expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing the need for accurate data to examine racial justice inequities, while clarifying that this was not an endorsement of the vendor. Judge Cheryl Ellsworth, the county’s criminal justice consultant, confirmed that the contract does not include payment for expert testimony and supported the collaboration between justice partners.
- Public Comment: Speakers from the community and the League of Women Voters expressed support for the initiative, citing the importance of transparency, data accuracy, and collaboration among criminal justice agencies.
- Motion: A motion was made to adopt the recommended actions A through C.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Vote Outcome: Passed.
Departmental Item 2: Board of Architectural Review Jurisdictional Alignment (Supervisor Nelson’s Office)
- Discussion: Supervisor Nelson presented a proposal to align the jurisdictional boundaries of the Central (CBAR) and North (NBAR) Boards of Architectural Review with the current Supervisorial District maps. The goal was to ensure that appointees are selected by the Supervisor representing the geographic area, specifically bringing the community of Los Alamos under the NBAR jurisdiction. Staff confirmed that the appointment process itself would not change, only the geographic alignment of the text and maps.
- Motion: A motion was made to approve the recommended actions regarding the jurisdictional alignment.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Public Comment: No public comment was received.
- Vote Outcome: Passed.
- Note: Following the vote, Supervisor Nelson announced the appointment of Michael Nicola as the first NBAR member representing the Los Alamos community.
Departmental Item 3: Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Legislative Funding Requests (County Executive Office)
- Status: The item was introduced by the Clerk, but the transcript ends before any discussion, motion, or vote occurred.
2023 Legislative Funding Critical Projects List and 2023 Legislative Budget Goals
- Discussion: Staff presented the 2023 Legislative Funding Critical Projects List and Legislative Budget Goals for review. The presentation outlined the process for identifying critical county capital projects for potential state and federal funding, noting that the county is typically limited to submitting five to ten projects at the federal level and one to two at the state level. Staff reported that the Legislative Program Committee reviewed the lists on February 6, recommending a focus on climate, clean energy, water, and homelessness. The current list includes 28 total projects and four budget goals. Don Gilchrist, the federal legislative advocate, detailed the appropriations process, noting that Senate deadlines have moved up (March 3 for Senator Padilla, March 13 for Senator Feinstein), while House deadlines are pending due to Republican control of the Appropriations Committee. He emphasized that projects must match specific program eligibilities and that cost-share requirements apply.
- Board Discussion: Supervisor Nielsen noted that the Legislative Committee did not specify criteria for project selection and suggested the list may be too broad. Supervisor Nielsen requested the addition of the Oasis Senior Center project in Orchid to the list to support advocacy for unincorporated areas and seniors. Supervisor Lavagnino seconded this request, noting the project also serves residents of Santa Maria. Supervisor Capps asked if non-capital projects, such as outreach funding for the Earned Income Tax Credit, could be included; staff confirmed that initiatives and other funding requests are eligible. Supervisor Hartmann suggested adding the Oasis project to Appendix A (the long list) to provide staff and legislators with more options.
- Motion: A motion was made by Supervisor Nielsen to move forward with the recommended actions and the tentative proposed federal earmark request list, with the addition of the Oasis project to Appendix A and the potential addition of an Earned Income Tax Credit initiative to the advocacy list.
- Second: The motion was seconded by Supervisor Capps.
- Vote Outcome: Passed.
Department Item 4 – Ground Lease and Development Agreement for Dignity Moves Hope Village Project
- Discussion: Staff presented the proposal for the Hope Village project, a temporary interim supportive housing initiative located at 2131 Southside Parkway in Santa Maria. The project is a partnership between the County, Dignity Moves, Good Samaritan Shelter, Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, and Dignity Health. The site will feature 94 cabins: 54 for homeless individuals, 10 for transitional age youth (ages 18–24), and 30 for recuperative care. The project is designed to address the acute need for temporary housing in the Santa Maria Valley, with a target of housing 91 individuals. The total project cost is $6.4 million, funded by $1 million in County ARPA funds for capital, $1 million in County ARPA funds for services, $2 million from Dignity Health, and the remainder from philanthropy and community fundraising. The County will provide the land via a five-year ground lease and a development management agreement. Staff noted that the project includes amenities such as private units, laundry, and a pet run, and that outreach has been conducted with the City of Santa Maria, local businesses, and residents.
- Board Discussion: Supervisor Lavagnino asked for clarification on the point of contact for community concerns, and staff confirmed that both County and Dignity Moves representatives would be available, with Good Samaritan serving as the primary contact during operations. Supervisor Hartmann expressed support for the project, citing the success of a similar pilot in Santa Barbara. Supervisor Nelson discussed the collaborative process with the City of Santa Maria and the importance of addressing encampments. He requested that the Board commit to seeking a new location for the project after the five-year lease term expires, to distribute the burden of housing across the community. Supervisor Capps expressed support for the project and the inclusion of pets. Supervisor Lavagnino thanked staff and partners, emphasizing the commitment to addressing homelessness and security concerns in the neighborhood.
- Public Comment: Carlos Escobedo, City Council Member for Santa Maria District 1, thanked the Board and expressed support for the partnership between the city and county. Kristen Cahoon, representing Good Samaritan, expressed excitement about the project and its potential impact on the community.
- Motion: A motion was made by Supervisor Lavagnino to approve the recommended actions A through D, authorizing the Chair to enter into the ground lease and temporary right-of-entry with Dignity Moves and executing the development management agreement.
- Second: The motion was seconded by Supervisor Nelson.
- Vote Outcome: Passed.
Closed Session
- The Board recessed to closed session to discuss existing litigation involving the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and to confer with labor negotiators for the Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and SCIU Local 620. The appointment of the General Services Director was not considered in closed session as action had been taken in open session.
Closed Session Report
- The board reported that it met in closed session to address one item of existing litigation involving the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (case: CCWA vs. County Flood Control) and labor relations matters concerning two employee organizations: the Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff's Association and SEAU Local 620. The board stated that it took no reportable action during these sessions.
Adjournment
- The chair announced the adjournment of the meeting and scheduled the next meeting for March 7th.