Meeting Summary
Present: Williams, 2-Capps, 3-Hartmann, 5-Lavagnino · Absent: 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
County Executive Officers Report
- The Chair will present the State-of-the-County address at an upcoming Chamber of Commerce event.
- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Buenotierra supportive housing development in Goleta.
- The County contributed over $3.5 million to this 60-unit project addressing homelessness and foster youth needs.
Administrative Resolutions
- Ryan Dipp was honored as Employee of the Month for his 19 years of service and tax collection leadership.
- A resolution recognized Sharon Ann Segal's two decades of service as a Congressional District Director.
- August was proclaimed Child Support Awareness Month to highlight family well-being and outreach efforts.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Plastic Bag Ban Legislation
- The Board adopted a resolution supporting AB 2236 and SB 1053 to ban plastic grocery bags.
- Discussion focused on closing loopholes for thicker bags and addressing microplastic health risks.
- CalPERS representatives spoke in support of the legislation citing public petitions.
Sheriff's Office Staffing
- The Board approved rehiring Stephen Akiyoshi as extra help to maintain jail facility maintenance continuity.
- This temporary rehire ensures project stability while a new supervisor completes background checks.
- Costs for this position will be covered by existing funds within the Sheriff's Coroner office.
County Code Chapter 12A Renewal
- An ordinance was approved to renew authority for minor real property transactions through September 2029.
- The renewal delegates power to department directors for leases under $10,000 and acquisitions under $50,000.
- Staff clarified that roadway vacation processes require a high threshold of "no future use."
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Grand Jury Coroner Facility Report
- The Board approved a response confirming implementation of roof replacement and mold abatement recommendations.
- Officials declined an independent OSHA inspection, citing sufficient existing compliance reviews by health departments.
- Public comment urged prioritizing facility replacement before the 2034 schedule due to substandard conditions.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Senate Bill 43 Implementation Update
- Staff reported on the deferred implementation of SB 43 regarding involuntary detention for substance use disorders.
- The Public Guardian's Office projects a need for additional staffing and increased investigation costs.
- Plans include applying for state BCHIP funding to expand bed capacity through regional partnerships.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Closed Session
- The Board discussed a conference with labor negotiators covering all bargaining units and managers.
- Existing litigation involving Podlesny v. the County was reviewed during the closed session.
- No reportable action was taken on either of these items upon reconvening.
Full summary
Call to Order and Remote Participation
- The August 20, 2024, meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors was called to order with Supervisors Williams, Capps, Hartman, and Chair Lavinino present; Supervisor Nelson was absent. Supervisor Williams requested permission to participate remotely under Assembly Bill 2449 due to a family medical emergency. A motion was made and seconded to approve the request. The motion passed unanimously without a roll call vote, as Supervisor Williams did not vote on his own participation request.
Approval of Minutes
- The Board considered minutes from the July 16, 2024, regular meeting and the July 30, 2024, special meeting. A Clerk addendum regarding the July 30 minutes was noted. A motion was made and seconded to approve both sets of minutes. Following a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Passed 3–0 · unanimous
County Executive Officers Report
- Ms. Miyasako presented the County Executive Officers Report, announcing an upcoming State-of-the-County presentation hosted by the South Coast Chamber of Commerce featuring Chair Lavinino and economic forecaster Peter Rupert. She also reported on the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Buenotierra, a 60-unit supportive housing development in Old Town Goleta addressing homelessness, including 15 units for youth transitioning out of foster care. The project was a collaboration between the County, City of Goleta, and the Housing Authority, with the County contributing over $3.5 million.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Administrative Agenda
- The Board considered a motion to approve the balance of administrative items, excluding Item A-19 which was pulled for separate discussion. Administrative Item No. 23 regarding salary increases for local agency executives had been withdrawn at the request of the Human Resources Department. The motion to approve the remaining administrative items was made and seconded. Following a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Administrative Item No. 1: Employee of the Month
- A resolution was adopted to honor Ryan Dipp of the Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator's Office as the August 2024 Employee of the Month. The resolution recognized his 19 years of service, leadership in Transient Occupancy Tax collections, and contributions to a positive work environment.
Administrative Item No. 2: Resolution Honoring Sharon Ann Segal
- A resolution was adopted to honor the life and legacy of Sharon Ann Segal. Sponsored by Supervisor Capps, the resolution recognized her two decades of service as District Director for Congressmembers Walter and Lois Capps, her dedication to constituent services, and her community impact.
Administrative Item No. 3: Child Support Awareness Month
- A resolution was adopted proclaiming August 2024 as Child Support Awareness Month in Santa Barbara County. The resolution highlighted the role of child support in family well-being and noted that the County's Child Support Services manages nearly 10,000 cases annually. Department representatives outlined outreach activities, including bilingual workshops, school supply distribution, and a tri-county collaboration at the Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard.
Administrative Item No. 19: Support for AB 2236 and SB 1053
- This item concerned a resolution supporting legislation to ban plastic grocery bags (AB 2236 and SB 1053). A representative from CalPERS spoke in support, citing public petitions and the need to close loopholes allowing thicker plastic bags. Board members discussed the environmental impact of plastic versus paper bags and health risks associated with microplastics. A motion was made and seconded to approve Item A-19. Following a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
General Public Comment
- Six members of the public provided comments on issues not on the agenda. Multiple speakers representing residents of senior mobile home parks requested a moratorium on converting senior parks to all-age parks, citing safety concerns and the loss of affordable senior housing. Supervisor Capps acknowledged the concern and noted staff was already working on the issue; Chair Lavinino directed staff to consult with board offices to prepare an item for future discussion. Other comments addressed a planning dispute regarding building permits and alleged corruption, as well as state-level housing policies and election machines.
Departmental Item No. 1: Sheriff's Office Extra Help Services
- The Sheriff's Coroner office requested approval to rehire Stephen Akiyoshi as extra help before his 180-day retirement window expired to maintain continuity on critical jail facility maintenance projects while a new supervisor undergoes background checks. The cost was to be covered by existing funds. No public comment was received. A motion was made and seconded to approve the staff recommendation. Following a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Departmental Item No. 2: Renewal of County Code Chapter 12A
- The General Services and Public Works Departments presented an ordinance to renew County Code Chapter 12A regarding the administration of county-owned property. The renewal delegates authority to the Directors of General Services and Public Works for five years (through September 2029) to handle minor real property transactions, leases under $10,000/month, and acquisitions under $50,000 without Board action. Supervisor Hartman inquired about rights-of-way designated for future trails; staff clarified that roadway vacation processes require a high threshold of "no future use" and would be reviewed against master plans. Supervisor Capps confirmed this was a routine five-year state law requirement. No public comment was received. A motion was made and seconded to approve the staff recommendation. Following a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Departmental Item No. 3: Response to Grand Jury Report on Coroner Facility
- The County Executive Office presented a response to the 2023-2024 Grand Jury report titled "Santa Barbara County Coroner Facility and Equipment, A Hazardous Environment." Staff reported that recommendations regarding roof replacement, mold abatement, and termite infestation had been implemented. The County disagreed with findings that the facility was dangerous to health and safety, citing compliance inspections by the County Public Health Department and the California Department of Public Health. Recommendations for a new independent inspection (OSHA or CalOSHA) were declined as existing inspections were deemed sufficient. Staff noted that while a new facility is planned under the Chi-URL master plan (Phase 5C), it is scheduled for 10 to 15 years in the future due to other urgent capital needs.
- Discussion focused on the County's response, with Board members noting that formal "no" responses to certain recommendations were misleading because many improvements had already been implemented prior to the report's assessment. Staff clarified that the Risk Management Department provides countywide safety oversight, rendering a dedicated full-time safety officer within General Services unnecessary. Lieutenant Jarrett Morris of the Sheriff's Office stated the facility is currently safe for personnel with no reported health issues attributed to the building's condition.
- Public comment was received from Gail Osherenko and Emiliano Campobello. Speakers supported the Grand Jury's recommendation for a complete facility replacement, citing substandard conditions and historical capacity issues. They urged prioritizing replacement before the 2034 schedule, considering alternative locations, and adopting an independent medical examiner system.
- A motion was made to approve actions A through C regarding the Grand Jury response letter. The motion was seconded. Upon roll call, the motion passed unanimously.
Update on Deferred Implementation of Senate Bill 43 (SB 43)
- The Behavioral Wellness Department and the Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator presented an update on the deferred implementation of SB 43, which expands criteria for involuntary detention to include standalone substance use disorder (SUD) and adds "personal safety" and "necessary medical care" to the definition of grave disability. The Board had previously approved a deferral of the implementation deadline from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2026.
- Staff detailed legislative changes, the continuum of care, and the current lack of state guidance on facilities designated for SUD-only involuntary treatment. Data trends indicated a decrease in 5150 holds year-to-date, though neighboring counties experienced a shift in the type of holds involving severe co-occurring disorders or SUD. The Public Guardian's Office reported a 44% increase in investigations over three years and projected a need for additional staffing, estimating costs of $242,000 for the current fiscal year and $458,000 annually thereafter. Behavioral Wellness stated that internal efficiencies have been achieved and no additional staffing is currently anticipated for their department for the first two years, though they are planning for potential bed expansion through state funding (BCHIP) and regional partnerships.
- Public comment was received from Lynn Gibbs, Karen Hauenstein, and Suzanne Rorden. Ms. Gibbs questioned the lack of a concrete plan for new policies and treatment capacity. Ms. Hauenstein raised concerns regarding historical corruption in conservatorship cases and funding sources. Ms. Rorden expressed gratitude for the legislation and urged support for creating necessary treatment opportunities.
- Board members discussed operational impacts, including the role of the Public Guardian. Staff clarified that while referrals for investigations are expected to rise, the hope is that initial involuntary holds will facilitate voluntary long-term treatment. Staff confirmed plans to apply for state funds (BCHIP Round 1) to increase bed capacity and noted regional collaboration with Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.
- A motion was made to approve staff recommendations A and D regarding the SB 43 update. The motion was seconded. Upon roll call, the motion passed unanimously.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Closed Session
- The Board recessed into closed session to discuss a conference with labor negotiators (subsequently withdrawn) and existing litigation involving John Andrew Poe Lesney v. County of Santa Barbara. Upon reconvening, the Board reported on these items: a conference with labor negotiators regarding all bargaining units, unrepresented employees, managers, and executives; and a case of existing litigation involving Podlesny v. the County. No reportable action was taken on these items.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned on Tuesday, August 27, in Santa Maria.