Board of Supervisors — 2025-05-13

Good morning, everyone. It's my pleasure to call to order this meeting of May 13th 2025 of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, please call the

today.

OK first up is the approval of the minutes from our last meeting. Move approval. Thanks Supervisor Hartman.

Second.

Thank you. All those in favor please say aye. Motion carries now for our CEO's report.

Good morning Chair Kaps and Board Members. I have three announcements this morning as part of my report. First of all, a countywide test of the Ready SBC Alert system will happen this Thursday May 15th at 10 o'clock AM. The purpose of this test is to verify that community members who have registered for Ready SBC Alerts receive them without issue. Ready SBC Alerts provide the public with emergency and potentially life-saving information Community members that live and or work in Santa Barbara County are encouraged to register or sign in their ReadySBCAlerts account to update contact information, and that information to sign up is on on our website and on the screen. The second announcement is that the Regional Fire Communications Center started taking its first 911 emergency calls for fire and medical services today.

The transition of all jurisdictions' fire and medical calls will take place over the next couple of weeks. This change is centralizing dispatch operations, and enhances coordination and response efficiency across multiple cities and jurisdictions. Lastly, this week is recognized as National Hospital Week. The American Hospital Association recognizes this week as an opportunity to highlight hospitals and the healthcare workers within including the many they support and connect in their community. In particular, the county wants to celebrate behavioral wellness's psychiatric health facility staff as key hospital care providers in our community rising to the challenge to serve others. As a county we felt it was essential that others see the impact which the PUF as we call it has had within our community and we thank every team member who makes up the overall PUF staff so thank you to them.

And that concludes my report.

All right, thank you so much next we just want to go to our administrative agenda would any members like to pull any items? Oh go ahead. Your list of changes for today.

Chair Caps and members of the board, I do have a few announcements this morning we posted an addendum on Friday May 9th adding administrative item number 26 to the agenda which was inadvertently left off the published agenda. Administrative Item Number 26 is from the Planning and Development Department and is a second reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 10 building regulations of the Santa Barbara County Code to establish the Isla Vista Rental Housing Inspections Pilot Program. This addendum has been posted and made available online to the board and the public Additionally, we received a request from Supervisor Nelson's office to amend Administrative Item Number 4. Administrative Item Number 4 is a resolution originally scheduled to be presented by Supervisor Nelson honoring Susan Warnstrom for her dedicated service to Santa Barbara County as an honoree is unable to attend today's meeting the request is to amend the item to designate it as an honorary resolution Furthermore, we received a request from the department to continue Departmental Item No.

1. Departmental Item No. 1 is from the Community Services Department regarding the PRO Housing Designation Program. The department is requesting a continuance to the May 20th Board of Supervisors meeting. Lastly, 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 of the board's office at area code 805-568-2240 again that number is 805 568 2240. And that concludes my announcements for this morning

Okay, thank you Madam Clerk. So now we move to administrative agenda and I don't have any items pulled yet that I'm aware of so any board members like to pull?

Yeah, I don' t need a roll call vote on it but I do want to discuss item 82 briefly before we move forward on that but I don''t need a roll call or separate vote for that.

Okay.

And 825.

And Madam Clerk, any members of the public that have pulled? Chair Caps and members of the board we have no requests from the public to speak on any administrative items today.

Okay so then I think I'll entertain a motion to approve all of them except for A25.

Second.

Okay all those in favor please say aye. Aye. So Supervisor Nelson we can move to A2 once the clerk is ready.

I don't mind taking that one.

Oh, when we do it? I'm sorry after resolutions. I'm locked out of my computer today so I'm just a little It's rejecting me so I'm a little discombobulated but yeah let's move to our resolutions

Chair Capps and members of the board, Administrative Item number one is sponsored by Supervisor Capps. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the week of May 11th 2025 through May 17th 2025 as National Peace Officers Week in Santa Barbara County and joining us receiving this resolution in person today we have Undersheriff Craig Bonner and additionally we have Sheriff's Office personnel if you can all please make your way to the podium I'll go ahead and read Whereas National Peace Officers Week represents a period of time recognizing peace officers across the United States who have worked devotedly and selflessly on behalf of the people of this nation, our state and Santa Barbara County regardless of the peril hazards or challenges they face.

And whereas sheriff's deputies at the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office continue to safeguard the lives and property of the people of Santa Barbara County and are highly regarded professionals working in concert with other local criminal justice and public safety entities And whereas by the enforcement of our laws, these same deputies continue to help keep our county safe. And whereas these men and women, by their patriotic service and their dedicated efforts have earned the gratitude of our communities. And whereas in recognition of the service given by the men and women who night and day stand guard to protect us through the enforcement of our laws and who provide dedicated and compassionate service to the people of our nation and the communities of Santa Barbara County.

Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors recognizes the week of May 11th, 2025 through May 17th, 2025 as National Peace Officers Week and takes this opportunity to thank the men and women of the Sheriff's Office who have chosen a career in the protection and service of others passed and adopted today.

Good morning on behalf of Sheriff Brown and our entire sheriff's office team, a small portion of which was here today to help us. Unfortunately we're 24-7 operations so we weren't able to bring everybody here today but we do have a good representation of our patrol, our detectives and even community resource deputies. We thank your board for this resolution bringing attention to and recognizing The important contributions of our county's law enforcement professionals in serving our local communities.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Police Officers Memorial Day and the surrounding week as National Police Week especially recognizing law enforcement officers who have paid the ultimate price and who have lost their lives in service to others. but also providing all of us an opportunity to recognize those who serve as law enforcement officers, or in our case, as deputy sheriffs.

Men and women who exemplify professionalism, integrity, and strength, and do so within difficult and sometimes dangerous work environments. Day in and day out the men and women of the Sheriff's Office go out into our communities to serve and protect Although they are prepared to go into harm's way to keep you and I safe, they are also prepared to help all of our community members equally.

Our deputies are a key component of what makes our local communities a great place to live. Sheriff Brown and I are incredibly proud of our entire team individually and collectively. Our deputy sheriffs and our professional staff are truly integral to our community's overall safety and security, and we thank your board for recognizing their contributions through this resolution this week. Thank you.

Thank you. And thank you for providing that history. I will

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 opposing federal cuts to food safety net programs in Santa Barbara County and joining us in person today to receive the resolution we have Eric Talkin, CEO of the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County. And if you can please make your way to the podium?

I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas poverty and food insecurity impact communities nationwide, including Santa Barbara County where approximately 17% of residents live below the federal poverty line. And whereas access to nutritious food is a basic human right and addressing food insecurity requires coordination among public agencies, nonprofits, and private partners.

And whereas federal food safety net programs such as CalFresh, SNAP, USDA Food Commodities and school-based nutrition programs are proven tools that improve health reduce poverty and support family stability. And whereas nearly half of SNAP households with children include at least one working adult, and more than 30,000 Santa Barbara County households receive over $10.5 million in monthly CalFresh benefits supporting families, grocers, and local farmers.

And whereas USDA food commodities which are 100% American grown are distributed through food banks, emergency programs, and school meals. And whereas more than 20,000 children in the county benefit from free school breakfast and lunch programs which are vital for health and academic success. And whereas the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County reaches one in three county residents each year through its extensive network of community partners and innovative nutrition programs.

And whereas proposed federal cuts to CalFresh, USDA food allocations and school nutrition would worsen hunger harm U.S. agriculture and reverse decades of progress. Now therefore it is hereby ordered and resolved that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors affirms the essential role of federal food safety net programs and the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County in advancing health, dignity and opportunity and urges Congress to reject any proposals that reduce access to food for vulnerable communities. Pass it adopted today.

Thank you. Chairman Caps, Supervisor Hartman thank you so much for sponsoring that resolution and the rest of the board as well. The S in SNAP is for supplemental it's $6.20 a day there's not much you can do with six dollars and twenty cents. SNAP is something that's very hard to get it's very hard to hold on to you have to be very low income to get it you have to be a green card holder to get And SNAP, as was suggested in the resolution, has this double effect of really being able to stimulate the local economy. People are spending dollars locally.

It has a very, very low fraud level compared to white collar crime. It really is an amazing program and it really is just a basic keep the lights on for society type of program. Yet we see in the budget that is being presented that cuts and also hidden cuts by making it much harder to get and hold on to, by passing on the expense to states and counties and cities is going to make SNAP much less effective.

So amidst these SNAP proposals, you know that's within a framework of other cuts. So at the Food Bank we are looking at about $5 million worth of food being cut in the coming year. That is going to represent 25% of all of the food that we distribute We're trying to do what we can. We're taking a million dollars from our reserves to spend on food this year, primarily to support local farmers that will grow food for the Food Bank but we're not the federal government. We can't do that type of thing in an ongoing basis. We're also seeing things like TFAP being cut And the budget proposal also includes things like cutting the Community Services Block Grant and the Commodity Foods Supplemental Food Program. These programs are really lifelines for older adults and community organizations, so the combined impact of things would really damage basic need programs incredibly.

So we really appreciate the Board of Supervisors making its voice a part of the opposition. And we call on Congress to protect and strengthen SNAP, not cut or weaken it because it really is the nation's most effective anti-hunger program. Thank you

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Tolkien I just appreciate you being here and highlighting what's well certainly if there ever was a time to support our local food bank it would be now with our private dollars it's just devastating what's happening this is a bipartisan program that received support from both parties for generation and to see these kind of cuts happening now when they will have such an impact on our most vulnerable so thank Supervisor Nielsen.

Yes, thank you Chair Caps and I as noted earlier I did vote for this but I'm just I am a little concerned about Kind of bring our legislative platform onto our resolutions, just as a process issue. Just in part because some of these things need to be discussed and debated a little bit. I am committed to the social safety net up here as a supervisor. But some of these cuts might be cut somewhere else. And so there's conversations that go into kind of our legislative advocacy You know, I'm not objecting to this today. I just think we just need to be careful as a board on bringing too much of opposition to federal or state decisions to our resolution portion of our meeting. Glad to have it as part of an A item in the future, you know, as part of the legislative platform or a letter that we want to really elevate or do some additional advocacy on.

That makes sense to me. I'm just a little concerned about changing this. We're going to have a lot of budget cuts coming from the state You know, and there's some things that we might want to have see restored. And I'm happy to have those conversations. This is the place to do it. But I'm just a little concerned about turning into resolutions and then you're presenting it. Then if there's some opposing view, then we start to debate.

I think this was very well written. And I think, you know, I could support nearly everything that was in that but I just want to be careful as a board moving the future. I don't want to get into starting getting a place where resolutions become something controversial and so that's just one make that point. But I appreciate the authors bringing it forward and I'm just wanted to note that for the record. Thank you.

Understood.

Supervisor Hartman? Yeah, I'll have to puzzle about that because our legislative platform was adopted by the entire board and I think what's really really important is that the activities that are happening at the federal level and the state level have implications locally and bringing those to the fore I think is very much our job People look to the county and say, gee can't you backfill? Well our budget is stretched. And we get money over 40% of our budget from the state and federal government so we don't have the money to backfill these programs. So I think that the best we can do is say that these are part of this social safety net and it affects our population tremendously.

Fashion if not resolution some other fashion we need to track this and make it very clear.

Well, let me maybe suggest when we do have this be something. I'm not sure how this fits with our legislative platform but maybe bring that letter as an A item so we can kind of have that elevate it might be something the Ledge Committee could bring something that you guys want to further bring attention to the board so we can have on the radar that might be a better place to do it. So again, I'm not objecting to it. It does beg the question You know, I don't believe in continuing to print a lot extra more money that just pushes inflation and make people poorer as well which is what we're doing as a nation. So we are going to need to make some cuts or make some other fiscal decisions and there's a debate about that. And you know, I know we do a good job here.

I hesitate to start to overly opine on what cuts where and other jurisdictions levels of government. You know there's a lot of debate going out there and I don't know if they care that much at the end of the day when we start to get in deep into the weeds but again, appreciate you guys giving me a chance just to say my piece.

Sure

okay thank you

Thank you Madam Chair, members of the board. On behalf of Fire Chief Hartwig we want to thank you for proclaiming May 2025 as Wildfire Community Preparedness Month. This recognition honors the collaborative efforts of our federal state and local partners working to keep our communities fire adapted and resilient As a reminder, June 1st is the deadline for defensible space inspections in high fire hazard areas. Firefighters will begin property inspections and it is the responsibility of property owners to complete vegetation clearance by that date.

To learn more about defensible space we want the community to visit our website at sbcfire.com and we encourage everyone in the community to sign up for emergency alerts at readysbc.org Thank you so much

Supervisor Hartman. Yes, could you talk about zone zero? I think it's very important because after the LA fires they've concluded two things. Zone zero is really important one of the top things we can do and don't have wooden fences that come up in adjoining your house because that'll just transport the fire so zone zero

Yes, Supervisor Hartman. Zone 0 is one of our newest zones in the last few years and it's a zone that has found that a lot of houses catch fire because of the adjacent combustibles so as you mentioned certain fences that are attached to the house we want those first several feet to maintain that clearance of any type of combustibles In the past, people were encouraged to have wood chips in those areas and those are also a catch basin for embers as well. So as people improve their homes and they take fire safety very important especially as we have a rich history of large scale fires in this county that they switch over to non-combustible materials such as gravel in those areas.

Thank you very much and thank you for being here. We all know what a critical issue fire is for us in this area, I serve on the board of Fire Safe Council we work closely with our county fire and if anybody's listening who would like to become a fire wise community that is it's not just your own individual defensible space but community defensible space and looking out for each other and so you can go to the Thank you. Okay, next resolution please?

Chair Capps and members of the board, our final resolution today is Administrative Item Number 5. It is sponsored by Supervisor Nelson. It is to adopt a resolution honoring Ray Williams for his outstanding achievement in representing Santa Barbara County and the United States in the 2025 World Butcher's Challenge. And joining us in person today we have Ray Williams and his family and I will go ahead and read the resolution into the record.

Whereas Ray Williams, a proud resident of Los Alamos California has dedicated over three decades of his life to the craft of butchery beginning at the young age of 14. And whereas Ray Williams worked diligently through his early career including 12 years at the Vandenberg commissary where he rose to the position of meat manager and currently serves as a vocational training instructor at the Federal Correctional Complex in Lompoc In 2012 Ray Williams became involved in the world butchers challenge also known as the Olympics of meat serving as floor manager for the competition gaining international experience and furthering his knowledge And whereas based on his expertise, Williams successfully competed in a nationwide tryout to earn a coveted spot as one of the six members of Butchers of America's Team USA who proudly represented the United States at the 2025 World Butcher's Challenge in Paris, France competing against 18 other countries.

Whereas Williams is the co-owner of Whiskey Bent Barbecue where he shares his love of butchery and culinary excellence with the greater community demonstrating both leadership and innovation And whereas through his participation in the World Butchers Challenge, Ray Williams not only represents Los Alamos, Santa Barbara County and the United States on the international stage but also inspires future generations of butchers, chefs and culinary enthusiasts by showcasing skill, artistry and teamwork. And whereas the World Butcher's Challenge stands as a symbol of international cooperation, culinary innovation and philanthropy with all meat from the competition being donated to local food banks Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors recognizes and commends Ray Williams for his outstanding achievements on behalf of his country and community in the 2025 World Butcher's Challenge passed and adopted today.

It's been an incredible journey. I just have some people think there is no way we can get there without communities like this. Supervisor Nelson, everybody in Santa Barbara County really got behind me. I'd like to thank my wife Wendy, my kids Adam and Miranda, my mother Shirley I'd also like to thank FCC Lompoc and the Bureau of Prisons. They really got behind me on this and really supported me all along the way, so I just really want to thank everybody for all the support. Thank you.

Supervisor Nielsen?

Yes, thank you Chair Capsen. I just want to take this opportunity to recognize Ray. Los Alamos is a special community. I was just thinking about it's probably The more world champions per capita than anywhere else. You know, we've had rodeo world champions and now we have butcher world champions out of this small community and nothing says Los Alamos like the Williams family. And you know they are the heart and soul of that community in so many ways And they just give, give, give. And when they're done giving, they keep giving a little bit more and I really appreciate what you guys bring to our community in our county and my district. And I think this is really special to honor you and it's my pleasure so thank you Ray, thank you Williams Family, thank you FCC for supporting our county.

Supervisor Lee?

Ray, you say you had a restaurant in Los Alamos?

He's a barbecue team and catering. Okay, so I have to try it? Yeah you will. You have to they've won so many awards that they can't keep track anymore.

Let's go today. Okay congratulations with that we will move on to the administrative items pulled by the board which i believe is just one A22

Chair caps and members of the board administrative item number 25 is from the treasurer tax collector public administrator. This is a set hearing for June 3rd, 2025 to consider recommendations regarding Ida Abelhar's appeal of the treasurer tax collectors transient occupancy tax TOT audit final determination.

Okay, Supervisor Lee. So I'm pulling this because I see more of these appeals coming before especially my district and right now we have no flexibility so I would like to ask my colleagues if we can direct staff to bring us ordinance updates that gives us in the tax collector flexibility in collecting these taxes. So an ordinance change

Supervisor Nielsen.

Yes, I guess there was a little discussion on whether we could do some type of payment plan. I think is that what you're suggesting? Correct. And if I remember correctly we don't have anything in place to functionally do that but people could be making payments but they just can be incurring late fees which would be similar Taxes, but I guess maybe Supervisor Lee you're asking a way to maybe formalize how that's done. Correct and more options for us to

say either more than just yes or no to it.

Supervisor Herman? I think this is a slippery slope and I think we heard from our treasurer about that. If we, you know if we do it for TOT then why not property tax? Why not sales tax? Well we don't get sales tax but property tax or others. I just really am concerned about changing our policy in one area if And it just makes it complicated. I do believe people's taxes are a top priority, the thing they should be planning for and again they can pay late but they do have to pay a penalty on TOT People know, and we've been seeing a lot of people evading getting permits and paying their TOT. So I don't see why of all the taxes we collect that's the one where we would want to be more flexible.

Well we do, Supervisor Lee did you want to respond?

And I agree with your points but I believe these individuals generally they don't know and then we can help them just briefly with these so I'm not asking to make a decision today but be open to the idea that we can decide our options later on.

And we do have Leanne Hegarty from the Treasurer Tax Collector if we need her, but on the Zoom. But I mean I just want to ask a timing question this is a set hearing for June 3rd is it possible to have this conversation then or You're asking for potential options to be presented at the June 3rd meeting related to this case?

Yes, in addition if the CEO.

Supervisor, so the last time we had this conversation it was during an appeal and I think you would need to make a request of the treasurer and that's why Leanne Haggerty is online to ask for the Treasurer's Office to come back with different options for the Board. I don't know if it has to be June 3rd but they could actually start looking at those options sooner than later if the Board wanted to make that request and their office could bring back different options because as you know they said last time that we would have to make

So

I

don't know if you want to hear from Leanne.

Sure, if she yes Miss Hegarty if you'd like to just speak to the process.

Yes we would of course come back with recommendations but we'd also work with County Council to do that

Okay, Supervisor Nelson.

Yeah and I think one of the reasons County Council would probably need to be involved is I think some of this is actually set in state law but again trying to thread the needle and accomplishing the goal is I'm curious if there could be some guidelines or maybe a memo to potentially people who are delinquent on it you know here is what you're going to pay and you know if you were to do it in payments this is what it would look like costing you because I mean It's kind of an informal way that it's being done now is that somebody, you know, they're just delinquent until they catch up.

But maybe that could be a little bit more in a memo or something that helps get people there, which I think is the intent and the heart that's coming from Supervisor Lee. So because I don't know if we're going to be able to change state law like if you know, I don' think we can actually just say hey here's the payment plan but there might be something we can do to be more helpful as a county to help people dig themselves back out of the hole that they might be in

So Madam Chair, members of the board. I think so today we're just agendized to set the hearing for the specific item but you could put an item on a future agenda and discuss options which would include or would need to include some kind of amendment to the County Code but I don't know what the options are today. So that would be my recommendation which is we could discuss it when we come back with the options

Yeah, thank you. I mean, I'm I see perspectives. I see the slippery slopes slope argument and particularly with something related to T O T which there's been Some blatant disregard for folks paying but I also see I'm open to some not saying I would support a change but I'm open to seeing what a change could potentially be And so I'm happy

I'll go ahead and make a motion to move 825, which is a set hearing on this. And then I don't think the discussion up here need to be a part of that motion. Since

you'll be requesting the Treasurer's Office to do it, they're not an appointed department head. I think it's helpful to make the

request. And part of that motion will request bringing back a future item to discuss payment options and legal flexibility that the Board has on offering potential repayment programs or plans for delinquent taxpayers.

And I'd be interested in what other counties do. Good

point.

I'll second

that. I'm happy to support this, but I just want to be clear for the person that's appealing if this would impact or we wouldn't necessarily know if it would. So I don't think we should give sort of that false sense that this would kick in and time for this appeal. Is that accurate? County Council?

Madam Chair, yes that's correct.

Okay all right well all those in favor of the motion and the second?

Aye.

Okay so we've added that and now do we also need a vote on the set hearing 825?

That was my

motion. Thank you okay well that wraps up the administrative agenda moving right along here at 9.40 so then we'll move to departmental item.

Number one. Chair Caps and members of the board before you proceed with departmental item number one, we do have one request to speak from the public on general public comment today and we're going to remain here in Santa Maria and go to Karen Howenstein Karen.

Good morning. Karen Hauenstein, born in Lompoc. Joan Hartman is my representative. Over three and a half years ago, my father and I went to visit you and your administrative assistant telling you specifically of the difficulties we had encountered with organized crime targeting their titles to their land. I didn't understand at that time that your interests were maligned to us.

Now, I'm wondering Joan if they still are? There's a lot happening right now. My family is under tremendous amount of stress. My 85 year old father Forced to move back into the home to protect it from the fentanyl addicts that were sent by the man who is trying to steal the home, is under a tremendous amount of stress and in his confusion does not identify me as a helpful individual.

There's now an army of fentanyl addicts that are squatting on the land My animals have been killed. I'm struggling to enable them to survive now. I have been targeted by lawfare. I am being prosecuted for felonies by the district attorney's office that are made up accusations by the people who are trying to steal the house. That's all happening, Joan. Could you foresee this at all?

I'm being forced to live through this. And I am going to talk about it now, I'm gonna write about it in the future and I'm going to make certain that the corruption I've been investigating is exposed At all levels of our county. It's not just what's happening to my family it's happening to our county how many families have been targeted by organized crime. Organized crime that partisan interests support in this When I say we need DOJ here, we need DOJ big time.

Look at the NGOs and the nonprofits. And that

concludes general public comment for today. Okay thank you so now actually

Did we make it a part of the motion? I don't remember the continuation.

Chair Caps and members of the board, why don't we go ahead and just approve the continuance for departmental item number one as announced this morning. Departmental item number one is from the Community Services Department. It is a hearing to consider recommendations regarding the pro-housing designation program and the request from the department is to continue this item to next week May 20th

I'll go ahead and make that motion to continue the item to May

20th. Okay we have a motion a second all those in favor please say

aye

okay now item number two

good morning chair caps and members of the Board of Directors of

Yeah,

let's let she can read it into the record. Chair Kaps and members of the board, departmental item number two is from the Public Works Department Board of Directors in Laguna County Sanitation District. It is a hearing to consider recommendations regarding the Laguna County Sanitation District ordinance relative to sewer service charges connection charges and trunk sewers sewer fees and a resolution relative to the collection of service charges on the tax roll and this is in the fourth and fifth districts

Good morning Chair Caps and members of the Board of Directors of Laguna County Sanitation District. As just mentioned, today's action is to consider the first reading of an ordinance and resolutions associated with the sewer charges connection charges and trunk line fees for Laguna County Sanitation District. Laguna County Sanitation District is a dependent special district created in 1958 to serve the area of Orcutt, most of unincorporated southern Santa Maria and certain areas within the city limits.