Board of Supervisors — 2025-02-04

Hey, good morning everybody. Good morning gentlemen. I will call to order the February 4th 2025 meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk please call the roll.

Second.

Thank You supervisor Nelson all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Motion carries okay Miss Miyasato CEO's report

Good morning chair and board members. We have one report, and that is to celebrate the county's 175th anniversary. This year marks the 175th anniversary since the founding of the county. We were one of the original 27 counties created after the treaty that ended the Mexican War which placed California under the jurisdiction of the United States. In 1815, 18 counties were formed and we are one of them. And then months later nine were added bringing the original to 27.

To honor the history of the county, we have launched a new video series. These videos are produced in both English and Spanish and featured on CSB TV channel 20 social media and our county newsletter this morning We are debuting the first video in the series it explains how the county courthouse came to be And again thank you to our communications manager PIO Kelsey Butita for putting these together so let's watch

Welcome to Santa Barbara County, a place with immense natural beauty and rich history. Founded in 1850 as one of California's original counties, join us as we acknowledge the 175th anniversary of the county of Santa Barbara. This video focuses on the history of the Santa Barbara Courthouse

Prior to the building that we're standing in front of, there was a Greek Revival building primarily because a lot of the time were from the East Coast, so they just brought what they knew. The courthouse held one judge, so there was one courtroom. There was a place for the superintendent of schools. There was an auditor and a treasurer and other county leadership. The county had outgrown the buildings that were on this property and suggested that they be replaced but when they priced it out it was too expensive In 1925, there was this earthquake.

And so now the board had to do something because all the buildings were damaged and the year after the earthquake occurred it took about two and a half almost three years to produce what you see around me. It started construction with the Hall of Records and then progressed around to the jail. The jail wasn't authorized by the board to build because it was over budget But Leo Presker, who was the chair of the board at the time said well we have prisoners. We're going to need a jail so he just told the contractor keep building I'll sort it out that's how Leo worked and when they went over budget Leo because he was in the 5th district drove down from Santa Maria when he's passing Elwood and Goleta he notices that there's oil shooting out of the ground because the Rio Grande Oil Company had struck oil And it dawned on him, there's where my difference is going to come from.

So he sent the Rio Grande Oil Company an invoice tax basically for the difference between the $900,000 and the 1.4. Earl Chase and Bernard Hoffman, Stan Wood and a number of other movers and shakers in town at that time wanted to move back to Spanish Andalusian Mexican history So they crafted this plan to migrate all of the buildings from Victorian to Spanish Colonial Revival and determined that would be the signature of Santa Barbara. This building wound up being a key to all of that activity happening and to provide an example of what it could be. Some courthouses you get a modern facade on the outside, and it's something else on the inside. This is through and through every detail.

The doors, the windows, the railings, the flooring, the tile, the drapes, the lamps, everything is coordinated. The building was dedicated August 14, 1929. It's a community courthouse. And so that building has this love affair with the community that is unlike any other courthouse in the country. And of course, that was the purpose of designing it in this way so that the gardens and the stage all play as a place for things to happen.

And I think that is what makes it special.

I'd like to recognize two people, board members who have been the champions of the courthouse. And those are Robert Uli, president of the Courthouse Legacy Foundation and Rodney Baker, former president of the Courthouse Docent Council and board member. If you could too, if you two could please stand and be recognized. Thank you chair.

Well, that was fantastic. I hope that video gets shared widely and I have to say that one of the wonderful things about working right here is to be surrounded by that courthouse so maybe you all will take a look as you walk out. Thank you to Kelsey and to our CEO for that. Madam Clerk are there announcements to our agenda?

Chair Kaps and members of the board, I have a couple quick announcements this morning. First we received a withdrawal request from the department to withdraw departmental item number one from the agenda. Departmental item number one is from the planning and development department it is a hearing to consider recommendations regarding regarding the Kargasackie appeal case number 24 APL 18 of the County Planning Commission approval of the Blanco grading for access road improvements project case number 15 LUP 72 and this is in the third district And with no public request to speak on this item, the board may proceed with withdrawing the item at this time and approving the revised recommended actions A through C as reflected on page 14 of today's agenda.

To acknowledge the withdrawal and approve case number 15 LUP 72 or defer the approval of the withdrawal until the start of the departmental agenda. For the Board of Supervisors methods of public participation and to provide public comment on general public comment or an item on the board's agenda, please see page 2 of the agenda. Individuals that would like to provide verbal public comment may do so via Zoom by registering in advance via the link available on page two. If you have any questions please contact the clerk at the board's office at area code 805 5 6 8 2 2 4 0 and that concludes my announcements for this morning.

Thank you Madam Clerk, and what was the pleasure of the board can we move approval of that withdrawal request now so we don't have to take up later? So moved. Thank You Supervisor Hartman.

Yeah I'll second I just had a I did have a question for staff on it I'm curious on who withdrew all that came from the applicant or the appellant I don't know if there's a an answer there

Supervisor Nielsen, could you repeat the question?

Yes. So it's a withdrawal so I don't know who withdrew was the applicant or the appellant. The appellate withdrew because he appealed but they have you know both parties worked out a deal. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, so I will second again Supervisor Hartman's

Excellent

and Chair Kaps members of the board I did just want to confirm that that is to approve the revised recommended actions as seen on page 14 A through C to approve the withdrawal and Which is also approving the project case number 24 APL or excuse me, case number 15 LEP 72.

Great so our motion is fine as is? Okay great all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Okay Madam Clerk,

can pull 15 and 16.

Okay so it sounds like we have four. So I will now entertain a motion to approve the balance of the administrative agenda except for 9,15,16 and 21

So moved. Second.

Great.

Aye.

Motion passes. Okay, then let's move on to our resolutions to be presented.

Administrative item number one please Madam Clerk. Chair Caps and members of the board administrative item number one is sponsored by Supervisor Caps it is to adopt a resolution of commendation honoring Samuel D Patton as the February 2025th employee of the month in Santa Barbara County and joining us in person today we have Samuel Patton and Michael Daly And I will go ahead and read the resolution into the record. Whereas Sam Patton exemplifies the county's organizational values of accountability, customer focus, equity and inclusion, innovation, trust and ethics. And whereas Sam Patton models the transformative behaviors of collaborative problem-solving alignment with the county's vision risk taking data driven decision making and strategic thinking And whereas Sam Patton began his career as an appraiser in 2009, taking on residential and commercial property assignments before switching gears and becoming a mapping GIS technician in 2024.

During which he continuously provided excellent customer service to county taxpayers and camaraderie to his colleagues. And whereas Sam Patton selflessly steps up to take on any challenge that comes his way, taking on drafting for the commercial team, volunteering to assist with different office projects, providing helpful ideas and input for improvements and thereby being a positive role model and leader of his peers.

And whereas Sam Patton is both an exemplary employee and avid golfer, relentlessly putting his co-workers to shame with his long drive but maintaining a fair and balanced approach by missing many of his short putts. Whether at work or on the course he always displays a positive attitude, good sense of humor, humility and grace. Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors recognizes Samuel D Patton as the Employee of the Month for February 2025 pass and adopted.

Good morning Chair Kaps, members of the board. I'm Michael Daly, the Chief Deputy Assessor and on behalf of Joe Holland and our entire department, the clerk recorder assessor and registrar voters elections division, I would like to congratulate Sam. This is a honor to be able to present this to him. I've worked aside him since I started at the county and he was One of the first people to welcome me in and sort of show me around the office and you know go on breaks and have lunch and get me acclimated to the to the county. And I'm forever grateful to him for doing that, and I know he's done that with And many of the other employees that have come through our office. There's not enough I can say about Sam, he is a genuinely kind humble person.

He is a great public servant even though sometimes he doubts himself on the phone with taxpayers. He actually does have a really strong level of confidence good work ethic. He's extremely helpful to both taxpayers and internally to his colleagues And he does it all with a really positive attitude. Great sense of humor, makes it fun in an office that is not always the most exciting thing doing tax assessments but Sam manages to make it a really enjoyable experience day-in and day-out and he's a true asset and we really value him and he's very deserving of this recognition so congratulations Sam.

I just want to express my gratitude to Chair Caps and the rest of the board, and also my department. I feel like a million bucks today this is awesome so thank you very much.

Well I can only imagine the patience and skills it takes to deal with taxpayers all day long. Thank You Mr. Patton okay Madam Clerk next resolution please

Chair Caps and members of the board. Administrative item number two is sponsored by Supervisor Caps and Supervisor Hartman, it is to adopt a resolution honoring Thomas Teig for his outstanding service as President and Chief Executive Officer of Direct Relief. And Thomas if you can please join us at the podium? And I will go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas Thomas Taig has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Direct Relief for 24 years from October 2000 to December 2024, leading the organization through a period of extraordinary growth and impact. And whereas under Thomas Taig's leadership, Direct Relief has risen to become the fifth largest charity in the United States Distributing more than $16 billion in medicines and supplies, and $350 million in grants to 136 countries and all 50 American states.

And whereas Thomas Taig has guided direct relief to respond swiftly and effectively to increasingly severe natural disasters and dangerous war zones including the ongoing war in Ukraine. Where the organization's support has exceeded 1.5 billion, and whereas Thomas TAG has fostered direct relief strategic modernization including the adoption of advanced technology platforms compatible with the largest healthcare companies in the world enabling the organization to become accredited in all 50 US states for distributing prescription medications.

And whereas Thomas TAG has maintained direct relief's commitment to its Santa Barbara roots while expanding its global reach, demonstrating that local insights and experiences are invaluable in addressing worldwide challenges. And whereas Thomas TAG has upheld Direct Relief's apolitical stance and committed to helping those in need regardless of political circumstances allowing the organization to provide aid even in complex geopolitical situations.

And whereas Thomas Tagg has consistently emphasized the importance of respecting and supporting local communities and organizations in direct release approach to providing aid. And whereas Thomas Tagg is warm-hearted, engaging, humorous, and self-deprecating. He has exemplified the spirit of service and dedication to improving lives around the world, inspiring others to contribute to the betterment of humanity. Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County does hereby honor Thomas Taig for his exceptional service as President and Chief Executive Officer of Direct Relief, recognizing his significant contributions to global humanitarian efforts and his role in elevating Santa Barbara's impact on the world stage.

Passed and adopted today.

Madam Chair and Supervisors, thank you. This is deeply appreciated and not particularly justified because I think that some of the people here who've done all the work that was reflected here it's like anything there's no singular victories at Direct Relief or most places unless you're a tennis or golf player like Sam but I deeply appreciate the recognition, undeserved though it may be and in the spirit of right back at you. You know I think as this wonderful document says a lot of the inspiration that came from direct relief came from here. As you know better than anybody In this bubble, people like to talk about the jewel of Santa Barbara and that's true but it is a microcosm of everything good and much bad in the world. We have every issue that we see on the headlines in this microcosm from immigration to extreme wealth concentration and poverty, agriculture, immigration, preservation of natural resources and land.

It's all here. And the fact that you were able to manage through that, in the way that you've done that is extraordinary. So I hope that the ripple of effect from how these issues are approached locally with sensitivity and grace even though there's great disagreements with a civility that's consistent and increasingly rare Right back at you. It's a privilege for Direct Relief to have been here, I think a lot of the inspiration that we found that was taken globally started here from the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics to the largest medicine program in the United States.

If it didn't work here, we figured it wouldn't work anywhere else and the old adage well don't try to do something elsewhere if you can't do it in your own backyard was a really good one for us to follow so it's with deep appreciation I accept this My name's in here a lot of times, but really it goes to all the people at Direct Relief who've been part of it for a long time. So with that thank you very much and keep doing what you're doing.

I just couldn't let this go by without saying how proud we are to have Direct Relief headquartered in Santa Barbara County and the global reach and reputation. And then also, just what a center it is for our community and the new building How many community events for fire safe council and emergency preparedness and so many things that you host there. It's an amazing resource for us to be more resilient, and you've always been welcoming and open and providing terrific technology that enables us to be cutting edge. And so you're just a tremendous asset for our community. Thank you.

Thank you Supervisor Lavarino

Well, thank you Madam Chair. I also didn't want to let this day go by without saying thank you. Direct Relief has been a very staunch supporter of Veterans Stand Down up in the Santa Maria area and on behalf of those veterans I get to see their face when we hand them that orange pouch of direct relief and it is one of the most prized possessions that they leave with. And so, uh, I know they don't have to get the opportunity to come back and say thank you. So on behalf of them to you continue. And when you said talking about even though your reach is global, um, you take care of the backyard. And so we're the backyard, we appreciate it. Thank you very much. And I just wish you all the best.

And I'll just add Thomas, I've had the privilege of working with you and I inserted in the resolution. I wrote the word self-deprecating because I knew that the first words out of your mouth were to be to thank them credible team of direct relief and I think it's well known just what a powerhouse we have here if it If it weren't already known, many of you probably heard Trevor Noah say direct relief about 18 times during the Grammys.

Not that the accolades are what you're seeking because it's actually the exact opposite. What you've shown and demonstrated is this incredible impact as my colleagues have said both globally and right here. And I was excited for this day as soon as I heard that you were moving on I can only imagine what you're going to do next, looking at what you just did for direct relief. I can't really fathom actually so thank you for your service. Today's a day about you actually and I really am proud to be able to share it with you. Thank you.

Okay Madam Clerk we will move on to administrative item number three.

Chair Capps and members of the board, Administrative Item Number 3 is sponsored by Supervisor Lee and Supervisor Capps. It is to adopt a Resolution of Accommodation and Recognition of 2-1-1 Services in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today we have Joni Kelly from ComUnify, Alejandra Enciso and Patricia Keelan. And if you can please come to the podium I'll go ahead and read the resolution.

Whereas 211 is a free, confidential and multilingual helpline that connects individuals to essential free health and human services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Ensuring that residents of Santa Barbara County receive critical information and support in times of need. And whereas 211 Santa Barbara County serves as a vital resource for disaster response and recovery, offering real-time information and assistance to individuals and families during emergencies, natural disasters, and crisis. And whereas the 211 Communify Day celebration collaborates with over 70 partners agencies to provide comprehensive services including free health screenings, haircuts, live music, children's activities, and more to promote community well being and resilience.

And whereas the 211 Community Day Celebration and Resource Fair will be held at the Earl Warren Showgrounds located at 3400 Cali Real, Santa Barbara California on Saturday February 8th 2025 from 11 a.m to 3 p.m bringing together community members service providers and organizations to celebrate the invaluable contributions of 211 services And whereas 2-1-1 Santa Barbara County exemplifies the spirit of community partnership and demonstrates a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of all residents, ensuring access to critical resources that enhance public health safety and social equity.

Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County hereby commends and recognizes 211 Santa Barbara County for its dedication to serving the community And urges all residents to participate in the 201 community day celebration and resource fair to honor and support those vital services passed and adopted today.

Thank you so much and that is such a difficult act to follow. I just want to recognize Director Elyse and Thomas for all of your great work. My name is Pat Keelan, I'm so pleased to be here today Madam Chair and distinguished board members. I am CEO for Communify and since 2014 we have proudly operated 211 Santa Barbara. A free comprehensive information and referral system available to any Santa Barbara County residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Residents can request assistance in over 150 languages by calling, texting or accessing information via our website. I want to thank the county of Santa Barbara for your partnership and support of this critical resource 2-1-1 Helpline plays a crucial role in connecting Santa Barbara residents with vital services, particularly during times of crisis. It serves as a lifeline for individuals and families facing various challenges from basic needs like food and shelter to mental health support and disaster assistance.

The helpline's easy to remember number provides a quick and reliable way for people to access the help that they need. And Santa Barbara County residents are utilizing 211 as a lifeline to resources in the community. In fact, in 2024 nearly 6500 residents called 211 for information and referrals alone. The majority of callers were female between the ages of 30 and 54 with income levels below $26,000 a year.

The top three caller needs are housing, mental health and substance abuse assistance and utility assistance. In short these resources help to keep struggling individuals and families keep a roof over their head, keep their electricity on and support their overall stability and well-being. As our residents continue to face challenges, 211 is an investment in the well-being and resilience of our community. We are extremely grateful to the County of Santa Barbara for being an important partner at recognizing these contributions.

As we have recently seen in the news in the last week there's a great deal of uncertainty for many nonprofit organizations As we navigate the tremendous changes at the federal level. So, we are particularly grateful to our local county Board of Supervisors and the partnership that we have with you to continue to serve our most vulnerable residents. So now we'd like to invite you all to come to our community day celebration for 2-1-1 this coming Saturday, February 8th at Oral Warren Showgrounds. There'll be over 60 local organizations there to share their information about their programs and resources. There will be free health screenings, entertainment, free haircuts and food and more so we look forward to seeing all of you there. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Keelan. I believe Madam Clerk that there is a public request for public comment before we see if the board would like to comment.

Yes Chair Kaps and members of the board We do have one request to speak from the public on this item here in Santa Barbara. We're going to Rennie Strong. Rennie?

Hello everybody Good to see everybody here. I'm sad that everybody left, but I'm glad people are watching at home. I am sure you guys know who I am. At least you've seen my page. I Am Renny Dean Strong is my name. And if you look on YouTube, you'll see that I spoke about five years ago to Mr. Steve Lannino. Sorry, I have a hard time with politicians and this system so I apologize.

I have three minutes but I don't see my clock. Oh there it is up there. Don't see it here. Again, I'm here to help. I'm back third times the charm and I really want to help with the houseless. I am in my car for a third time because of what I do, I speak to the Mayor, Councils, County Board of Supervisors but mostly to the public because the public need to come and actually more participate in this. But I told my friend Dan Warren on Cacique Station 2, I finally got a hold of him sadly His kid's mom passed away and got ran over in the epidemic of the drugs and got ran over by a train.

And now we've got two kids, and that's one of many stories of people that are on the drugs that I'm hearing trying to recover and not getting the help that they really need. Same with the houseless, my friends that are Negro Cuba, Leonardo Torres is his name These guys are in 65 and 70 living houseless out on the beach of the end of Milpas Corridor. Mr. Lee, thank you and congratulations on your position I really need your help with that.

Doctors Without Borders have dropped the ball three times before I got here and then talking and they didn't meet up with me and then also There's many that are not helping with helping the problems, but I'm here to help. I really am and I have all the solutions like Yonanali Garden that I helped get that renovation and put my ideas in it looks like they actually implemented some of them. But please help if you guys can reach out to me check out Stop Geoengineering California Facebook page And I'm here to help bring peace to our environment and to the people.

Stopping the ice and create communities, a super community center there at where the National Guard Armory is that Santa Barbara Unified School District paid $11 million dollars to have it but it just sits there and if you look at it go walk around people at that National Guard Armory on Cannon Perdido where I used to live on 822 East Cannon Perdido where Habitat for Humanity is. Again, one of the projects and things that I said in front of the council and then I had to leave because people didn't come together and let me put my piece in and let me participate and teach painting at a higher level.

So we need to come down and show how we can actually take back our government and you guys actually do what you need to do or you guys are all fired and I'm sorry to have to say it that way but when they're still spraying our skies and burning our houses down

Thank

you, Mr. Strong. And that concludes public comment on A3.

I want to just bring Ms. Keelan back please. Patricia if you might just come back to the mic because I just wanted to have some comments unless any other board... No no, Ms. Keelan.

Oh, you don't want to answer my question? Of course you don't.

Communify.

But I hope you do.

Thank you sir. Well, just to bring us back here. Thank you. I just want to acknowledge that it's actually extremely fitting that we are talking about 211 services and the fact that Communify for so long has carried this mantle of these essential Life lines for people, food, care, healthcare etc. And I just know that it's been quite a week for you all and I wanted to acknowledge the incredible chaos and uncertainty of potential federal funds that do fund a lot of these services and just ask you to...

You gave a nod to it but just give us a little bit more of an idea Thank you. I think we are all in the nonprofit community feeling a great deal of anxiety right now.

Childhood education as well as nutritious meals and snacks for our children, providing parenting education and opportunities for leadership and volunteerism for our Head Start families. As well as providing weatherization services. Our weatherization program is federally funded We weatherize over a hundred homes every year, providing energy-efficient water heaters and refrigerators primarily to seniors who sometimes don't have water heaters. Sometimes their refrigerator is no longer working or their stove And we're able to keep them living independently in their homes without the assistance of some assisted living facility. In addition to that, our energy assistance program provides utility bill assistance for vulnerable families and seniors Helping to keep the electric on so that they can in turn buy prescriptions or keep food on their table.

So this, what we're facing right now is potentially devastating for our community, for those who are most vulnerable and were obviously very concerned about the near future And hope that we will be able to continue to serve our most vulnerable children, families, youth and seniors in the coming year.

Well thank you I appreciate you elaborating on that and I will be with you on Saturday and perhaps we need to rally together now more than ever. Thank you.

Great thank you so much. Okay Madam Clerk.

Item number four please. Chair Caps and members of the Board, Administrative Item number four is sponsored by Supervisor Caps and Supervisor Hartman is to adopt a resolution proclaiming January 27th 2025 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today we have Josh Levine of Hillel and Josh if you can please make your way to the podium and I will go ahead and read the resolution Whereas the Holocaust was a state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jewry by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945 in which six million Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews were murdered among which were one and a half million children. And Roma Gypsies people with disabilities and Poles were targeted for destruction or decimation for racial ethnic and national reasons And millions more including LGBTQ plus individuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Soviet prisoners of war, political dissidents, journalists and judges also suffered grief, oppression and death under Nazi tyranny.

And whereas the United States Congress has long honored the fact that the armies of the United States were the primary discoverers of the locations used for extermination, the records of this systematic genocide and the few survivors. And whereas the historians, the United States Congress and the courts generally recognize the Holocaust as an occurrence not only of European history but also of the history of the United States.

And whereas of those few survivors of the Holocaust many subsequently immigrated to the United States And they and their descendants now form an integral valued part of our society. And whereas notwithstanding these well-recognized historical truths, there are those in contemporary society in the United States and the world who for purposes of sowing hatred disruption and division and to justify continuing discrimination not only against Jews but also against other minority populations and peoples And whereas the history of the Holocaust offers an opportunity to reflect on the moral responsibilities with vulnerable populations and against distortion and denial to model not only tolerance but also acceptance, and educate future generations.

And whereas pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly's unanimously adopted resolution designating January 27th as Holocaust Remembrance Day. Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors declares January 27th as International Holocaust Remembers Day in Santa Barbara County passed and adopted today.

Well, thank you very much Supervisors Capps and Hartman and all of you for a few minutes of your time today and for such a beautiful and thoughtful resolution. I'm Josh Levine here representing Santa Barbara Hillel, an organization in Isla Vista that serves the Jewish student faculty and staff community and friends and allies at UCSB and SBCC. So UCSB has the highest percentage of Jewish students in the entire UC system And our job is to make sure they're safe, connected, able to flourish. They don't need our help to have fun but we help them have fun too and experience Jewish joy and thrive in this wonderful Santa Barbara multi-faith, multi-ethnic, multicultural community.

And after October 7th, our efforts have expanded as we have seen a spike of anti-Semitism around the world, around the country and yes here in Santa Barbara too. In the U.S., those with significant anti-Semitic beliefs have more than doubled, more than doubled in five years, the highest levels in 60 years and in four of the past five years this figure has broken records.

In the US, 76% of respondents of a recent poll said they believed another Holocaust could occur. So while this resolution is so important, the reason it's so important is because we are moving in the wrong direction as a country and as a world. And I'm honored to be here today on a week that marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz but it wasn't just liberated in 1945 people liberated Auschwitz armies allies liberated Auschwitz.

A moment ago in historic terms, the Holocaust in which six million Jews were systematically murdered happened really yesterday. Systematic murder conducted in so many respects by ordinary people, a system that couldn't have happened without a system of dehumanization and friends, dehumanization is rising of Jews and of other others And we are moving in the wrong direction.

After the Holocaust, the world said never forget, never again. And October 7th and in light of the alarming statistics I shared earlier we added to it, never again is now. So resolutions like today's help us all remember and help us learn from the past so we can create a better future as the Jewish prayer, the Elenu reminds us it is on all of us to repair and to unite the world. So thank you very much for today's resolution.

Thank you Mr. Levine and I just want to personally thank you for the joy and the love that you bring to the community of Isla Vista, thank you. Thank you. Okay Madam Clerk now we'll move on to administrative items pulled by the board in the public.

Chair Kaps and members of the board, we will begin with administrative item number nine. Administrative item number nine is from the county executive office it is to consider recommendations regarding a funding agreement for Isla Vista Mutually Beneficial Capital Projects under 2024 University of California Settlement Agreement and this is in the second district

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just quickly pulled this because it's another opportunity to thank this board for having entered into litigation with the University of California Santa Barbara over the lack of housing which resulted in $3.6 million and this transfer of funds almost half a million dollars will literally light up a children's park and the area of Isla Vista, a very low-income area Where families really live and where a lot of kids live in a very dense part of our county. So I just wanted to acknowledge the board's action before I joined it by entering into this litigation with UCSB that resulted in literally lighting up more playgrounds and safety for the children of Isla Vista, thank you.

Second.

Chair Kapsa, members of the board. We will now move to administrative item number 15 which is sponsored by the Public Works Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding a state county freeway maintenance agreement for Highway 101 at Refugio Road in the 3rd District. Supervisor

Nelson. Yes, Chair Kapsch. Can we actually read in A-16 as well? I just want to speak to both of these. Sure.

Administrative item number 16 is also sponsored by Public Works Department and is to consider recommendations regarding a state county freeway maintenance agreement for Highway 101 segment 4B and this is in the first district.

All right. Thank you, Chair Kaps. Mr. Sneddy if you're available here for a moment. These two items are about freeway maintenance agreements. Those are the agreements between the county and Caltrans. You know there's obviously a lot of work going on various facilities that they have and what drew my attention was that there was, you know areas that are in Caltrans right away that they're asking us to now pay for and maintain in perpetuity. And I just wanted to just understand that a little bit better. You know we obviously have a significant amount of infrastructure in our county that we already have to maintain and so it draws on those resources when we have to maintain state resources as well. And so that's always something that gives me pause when I see that come across the board.

So can you speak to these specific Freeway maintenance agreements, especially the areas that are within Caltrans or State Right-of-Way. And then what is this looking like in the future? Is there a trend going on here with the state and what can we do to help you maybe push back on that a little bit?

Supervisor Nelson to the chair, thank you for that question. Freeway maintenance agreements go back decades and they're a good concept where they delineate the responsibilities when a county road is intersecting with the freeway and so in these instances these county roads have been maintained by the county going back decades and that's reflected in freeway maintenance agreements When new projects come in, the freeway maintenance agreements need to be updated.

New projects have a lot more complicated and additional elements than you used to have back in the 30's and 50's when it was just two roads crossing each other so the freeway maintenance agreements become more complicated and nuanced and a little bit more of a negotiation about the different elements when you have a county road intersecting or crossing with the freeway So the two before you today reflect many, many meetings of negotiations between Caltrans and the county.

And a lot of help from County Council on getting us to fairly balanced maintenance agreements. We are seeing a trend where Caltrans is asking local agencies to take on additional responsibilities within the state right-of-way that we feel kind of go beyond a balance of freeway maintenance agreement. So while these are pretty balanced, we're a little concerned that future ones are heading in a different direction so we've been working locally with District 5 and will be working at a state advocacy level Local agencies are responsible for the local agency roads and Caltrans is responsible for those elements that the state should be responsible for.

County and our county taxpayers are a lot of regional dollars go towards improving Caltrans' responsibility areas. And I would often argue in a disproportionate amount, and so it's really you know somewhat adds insult to injury when we're then asked to do ongoing maintenance of those facilities in perpetuity. And so you know I just think you know I guess from you know I'm fine with moving forward these but i just want to send a message to Caltrans and and maybe signal to you in these negotiations stay strong and in defending the county's position on on these agreements moving forward. I think it's really important that you know that we negotiate a strong relationship there, you know again we are We are giving already here in this county. I mean, you look at how many local dollars are going into some interstate projects here that are greater than potentially our responsibility as the locality and municipalities and we've committed to that but again as we move forward let's make sure Good agreements in place or at least negotiating for some other type of offset with Caltrans, you know There's things that they can take over for our for us and on the flip side That might be an opportunity as well.