Board of Supervisors — 2025-08-26

Okay, at this time we just want to get started with the approval of the minutes from our last meeting which was last Tuesday. Move approval.

Second.

All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Madam CEO do you have a report for us this morning? There's no report this morning chair. Okay moving right along madam clerk are there any announcements or changes?

Chair Caps and members of the board, I just have one quick announcement this morning 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 two 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 2 if you have any questions please contact the clerk of the boards office at area code 805-568-2240 again that number is 2, 2, 4, 0 that concludes my announcements for today.

Okay we're moving right along will go to our administrative agenda. Would any board members like to pull any items from the administrative agenda?

A14 and 16 okay.

A10 for myself.

14 and 15 I'm sorry. 14 and 15 so and I have so I have a 10 a 9 and a 15

I was 15 as well so.

Okay and Madam Clerk are there any items pulled by the members of the public?

Chair Caps and members of the board we have one request to speak from one of our resolution recipients on A1, so we can go to that after our resolutions been accepted

okay. So now I'll entertain a motion to approve the balance of the administrative agenda except for the items that have been pulled. So moved second. Okay all those in favor, please say aye. Aye motion passes we'll move right to our resolutions those resolutions were presented by a clerk.

Chair caps and members of the board. Administrative item number one is sponsored by Supervisor Caps and supervisor Hartman. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming August 26 2025 as Women's Equality Day in Santa Barbara County and joining us in person today, we have Raquel sick. Who is the first district commissioner? And chair for the Women's Commission this year. Tracy Baird Fifth District Commissioner Whereas on August 26, 1920 the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was certified granting women the constitutional right to vote after decades of activism and advocacy led by courageous and determined women.

And whereas Women's Equality Day is recognized annually on August 26 to commemorate this historic victory and to celebrate the continued work toward full equality and participation for all women in American society. And whereas the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors acknowledges the significant social, political, cultural and economic contributions of women throughout history and in the present day. And reaffirms its commitment to promoting equity justice and opportunity for all women and girls in Santa Barbara County And whereas despite the progress that has been made, women especially women of color, LGBTQ+, immigrant women and women with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers to equality in education, employment, health care, leadership and safety.

And whereas the County of Santa Barbara values diversity and inclusion, and is committed to addressing gender-based disparities, supporting leadership opportunities for women, and protecting the rights of women to live free from discrimination, violence, and bias. In recognizing that Women's Equality Day serves not only as a commemoration of past victories but also as a call to action to continue striving toward a more just and equitable society.

Now therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby acknowledge August 26 as Women's Equality Day and encourages all residents to reflect on the achievements of women. Acknowledge the work that remains and commit to advancing equity and justice for all women and girls in Santa Barbara County passed and adopted today.

Thank you very much Chair Caps, members of the board and community members. On behalf of the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women I want to sincerely thank you for this resolution honoring women's equality. This recognition is not just symbolic it's a reaffirmation of our county's commitment to fairness dignity and opportunity for all. When we celebrate women's equality we remember the generations of women who came before us those who fought tirelessly for the right to vote to be heard and have a seat at the table.

Their struggles open doors that we now have the responsibility to keep open and to widen for future generations. I'm proud to serve alongside my dedicated colleagues at the Commission for Women, and I'm grateful to this Board of Supervisors for your leadership in advancing equity across our county, and together we can ensure the next generation grows up in a community where equality is not just promised but practiced every day. Thank you for this honor and for your commitment to the women, families, and future of Santa Barbara County.

Supervisor Herman. Well, I just want to thank the Commission for Women and particularly the way that you've been in recent years been reaching out to younger women. I just have noticed the outreach. I know how hard it is women particularly younger women are active in other ways and just say the effort that you've taken to do that and I applaud you. Thank you Madam Clerk next resolution please.

Chair Caps and members of the Board, Administrative Item Number 2 is sponsored by Supervisor Nelson. It is to adopt a Resolution of Commendation honoring Dr. Suzanne Levy for her dedicated service to education in the community of Santa Barbara County and joining us in person today we have Dr. Suzanne Levy and I will go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas Dr. Suzanne Levy has served as the elected trustee for Area 2 of the Alan Hancock Joint Community College District since December 2020, representing Orkut, Quiama Valley and Southeast Santa Maria. And whereas Dr. Levy is a retired educator and community leader having taught computer science at Alan Hancock College from 1990 to 2003 and later serving in leadership and training roles at Bradman University and Dignity Health.

And whereas she holds degrees from the University of Illinois, UC Santa Barbara and Fielding Graduate University including a doctorate in educational leadership and change. And whereas Dr. Levy has contributed to numerous nonprofit and civic boards including the Awakening Giants Board of Directors, PCPA Foundation, Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum Orchid Children's Arts Foundation and the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women. And whereas she has long supported youth in education through roles in the PTA, school arts programs, the Math Super Bowl and Hancock's MESA Advisory Committee. And whereas Dr. Levy was named Women of the Year for Santa Barbara County District 5 in 2001 and honored at the Celebrate Philanthropy event for her deep and lasting community impact.

And whereas her lifelong dedication to service, education and leadership continues to inspire others across generations. And now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County does hereby recognize and commend Dr. Suzanne Levy for her extraordinary service, leadership and contributions to the college and the broader community passed and adopted today.

Thank you so much chair caps in the board and especially supervisor Nelson. I really appreciate this honor those of us that serve the community don't do it for recognition we do it because our hearts are really in the community and I've really enjoyed all the different aspects I've been able to be involved with. I appreciate that three of my fellow Women's Commissioners are here, Commissioner Beard, Commissioner Zick and Commissioner Young and then also the President of the College Kevin Walters who support me in all these endeavors and I will continue to contribute to the community as I can. Thank you very much.

Supervisor Nelson.

Yes, thank you Chair Caps. Suzanne I just want to take the opportunity to do this presentation. Suzanne is coming off of the Women's Commission as she has been my most senior member there and she has mentored the other young ladies that we have had on there for the last few years and she has been such a great example of a leader in our community for so long and she continues to be and also mentor and I think that is one of the things that she most brings to the table. It is not that she is just leading and there is nobody behind her. There are so many people Come up and see the work that she's done. And in such many diverse locations, whether it's education or just this weekend we were at the Oasis Barbecue. I mean she's touching so many different nonprofits and places in our community that are positive things to celebrate.

It was important for our office and for this county to celebrate Suzanne and all of her hard work. Thank you.

Okay resolution number three please. Oh that's it we're good, we'll move on then to the administrative items that have been pulled Madam Clerk when you're ready. And again by my count I think we have A9, A10 and A15 is that correct?

And A14. Chair Kaps and members of the board administrative item Number nine is from the Community Services Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding an agreement with the Fund for Santa Barbara to administer a fifth cycle of the County of Santa Barbara Racial Equity Grant Program.

Supervisor Nelson.

Yes, thank you Chair Caps. The reason why I pulled this item was back in 2021 when we created this fund that was done by unanimous vote of the board but there were some concessions and some compromises and at that time my understanding was that we were doing it Through the fund in part because we wanted to get those funds out as quickly as possible and that the county at that time didn't have the capacity through our Human Services Commission, which is usually a grant body or grant giving body was not capable of turning those dollars out quick enough. And so you know my expectation with this was that eventually this would be transitioned over to the Human Services Commission. And so I seen this extended through 2027 is Not what I thought this was going and so I wanted to maybe ask Jesus.

The thought process in that moving forward. And if there is intentions of bringing it forward, again there was lots of compromises that were made in bringing this forward including some collaboration with the fund. The fund has been an organization with some advocacy you know that not everybody's necessarily on the same team if you will. So what's nice about some of these funds when we administer them from the counties, the county is seen as a neutral party or should be and these types of things. So the fund has done a great job walking that line But I also see in times where things are getting a lot more polarized, it's going to be harder and harder to do that. And so having these funds administered from the county makes a lot more sense for my opinion.

So wanted to hear from you guys on where this is at.

Thank you. Excuse me. Thank you Supervisor Nelson through the chair as you indicated we've had some remarkable success with a fund. It's done a great job in trying to not only manage the process but bring forward recommendations for the board's consideration I think one of the important elements, should this be conveyed to the Human Services Commission is really understanding the staff capacity to assist that commission at this time. It as you know brought forward recommendations that totaled some a million dollars or so earlier this year that was very extensive, a very extensive process. So we're not convinced yet that it is able to embark on a new effort of that scale as well as embark on something new here. And so what to the extent that the board is interested in evaluating it, we can examine that more fully and come back to you with some recommendations possibly around the time you evaluate our next fiscal year presentation.

I believe Sarah can correct me but we do have the ability to terminate this contract earlier is the clause

We do.

So I would suggest that we at least extended for a year and we can evaluate whether it should be concluded earlier, but I think it's more important to evaluated in the context of our budget discussion later this year. And Sarah is happy to expand on that.

Thank you supervisor Nelson through the chair and that the contract provisions. Go through that series annual review and decision-making Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. So if there is something you're seeing or that your board would really like to prioritize, there's the opportunity at the beginning of this cycle. I think to impart that and to work with them to adapt the guidelines are really put a focus if there's a community like to serve or considerations you'd like to share so that could be I think one way to address it and then also I think in the spring when the recommendations are returned. I We're absolutely here and receptive I think to any feedback.

Yes, I'm not critical of the work that the fund has done to this point you know One of those compromises that was made that I actually meet with the fund to have some conversations just to try to include another perspective, but the rest of the public doesn't get that. And so what I'm trying to say is I think that the most transparent process, the process that's most open is to have it done through the Human Services Commission, the most widely representative of the entire county where we all On this board, appoint members to the Human Services Commission. So to me that makes the most sense. I thought that's where we were heading back in 2021 when this was initially started but the reason why that we went with the fund was their urgency and also that the fund at that time had those relationships in those communities that we're really trying to reach at that time.

I would have hoped that by 2025 four years later we'd be further along into advancing that and so Again, I'm just trying to give you some feedback on the history there and where we're going with that. I don't know if my colleagues support that or not but I'm just dealing from my perspective. That's my concern with moving forward again it's not a criticism of the fund or their staff or those that have volunteered to evaluate these applications because I'm going to abstain on this one if one of my colleagues makes a motion to move forward.

at this time. But again, I think it's something that the board and staff should consider moving forward if they want to really make this a fully inclusive process and stay away from some of the polarizing things that we continue to see in our community. And sometimes polarizing is for good reason but again if you want to try to bring in one county, one future, that means you're bringing in all people not just those that you agree with so I think having it done through the Human Services Commission might better represent the entirety of the county. Thank you

Supervisor Harmon, did you

want to? Yes. I think that's an idea worth considering. I think it might be better to consider it in the context of our budget discussions for the next year and since we can terminate the contract at any time that would be my strong preference. I would say that but I think your history is right. We wanted to get that money out quickly what I would say having served myself on the Santa Barbara on the funding funds Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to say one thing about the grant making committee is that they have tremendous in reach to disenfranchise groups throughout our county.

And so it's that proactive nature that I value and you don't have to be a 501 C 3. They help And that isn't always available to groups that are doing really valuable work in the community. So I would like to see the funds distributed to these new groups and give them a shot, and that would be something I'd like for whoever does it in the future but for now I'd like to move that we accept staff's recommendation with the proviso that we maybe consider this again under budget discussions.

And I'd like to support that motion. I just appreciate that this fund is working so well, both the fund and the fund and that you Supervisor Nelson have done your homework as you do by reaching out to the fund ask them about their process and perhaps one suggestion would be that they the fund go to the Human Services Commission and present I think it's important for the board to be able to understand their process. Maybe that adds a little just one step of transparency as they as they make their grant making decisions to that would provide I applaud the board for having made this decision to create this racial equity grant back in 2021. I was watching as a constituent and to know that it's gone on so successfully through the establishment of the fund, having these relationships with grassroots, I think it's smart to keep it going, so I'm happy to second the motion.

All those in favor please say aye and we'll take, I'm sorry, we'll do a roll call vote given the abstention.

Motion passes four with one abstention. Thank you.

Then we will move on to A10 which was pulled by Supervisor Lee.

Yes that's me.

But we need to read it. We'll have

the clerk read it into the record chair caps and members of the board administrative item number 10 is from the Community Services Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding the annual update to the inclusionary housing ordinance.

Thank you check capsule. The reason I pull this item is a few questions for Dr. Armis. So, the first one is do these new numbers make any new affordable housing funds available to the county?

Supervisor Lee through the chair, thank you for the question. The county's institution of the inclusionary housing fee was a critical element to try to accumulate monies to assist in the development of affordable housing which in turn of course has made it possible for individuals to acquire a place to live at an affordable rate, which is an important element. What we have seen of course is through the modifications of state law through the modifications of different requirements developers are instead looking to build units and rather than pay the fee Which we think is actually a good outcome because even as we accumulate funds, it pales by comparison to what is needed to develop residential units. Now in this case, as you indicated the county has accumulated over $1 million in funds over the years and we did identify in the report a couple of projects that have been funded so Because those have been completed, those have been available for occupancy by individuals that meet the income requirements.

So absolutely beneficial to the residents of the county.

Got it and just a follow up question so what do these numbers mean for people who are trying in our community to find housing? What does it mean?

It means that they may find assuming a satisfied income limits but they may find units to rent that would not otherwise be available to them so it's a critical element to addressing the really the housing crisis in our county.

Thank you and I just want to say thank you for your hard work and I'll be more than happy to move staff recommendation. So I moved

second. Okay all those in favor aye motion carries. Okay, then we can

Chair caps and members of the board administrative item number 14 is from the county executive office public works department and the Board of Directors water agency it is to consider recommendations regarding responses

And was that Supervisor Hartman? Yeah, I pulled this item and the title of the report is Water Management in Santa Barbara County. Keep up the good work. There was a study done in 2016-17 that looked at the dozen or so water agencies and our our water management agency of the county and came to a different conclusion. So they've seen a lot of improvement. They did make a recommendation that the county actually become more formally recognized as a coordinator of all these agencies, and I don't know how that could be implemented but I would like to commend the work of the agency in particularly Matt Young because he does it informally, creates connections and particularly with the demands of the Groundwater Sustainability Act. We've really been inventing that as we go and he has a grasp on that countywide and it's quite extraordinary.

Ms. Rosen-Ellison was that a holdover? Okay. No, thank you Supervisor Harmon for pulling it. I didn't want to go unnoticed that the Grand Jury gave us a... It's quite unusual to have a report that's just entirely positive so the fact we just snuck it in on an administrative agenda was interesting and noteworthy of itself so thanks for pulling it and highlighting and thanks again to the Grand Jury for their solid work and to Matt Young and his team Okay, moving right along. We will go to the next item I believe it's A15.

Oh we need a motion and excuse

me. Sure Chair Caps yeah so you know the recommendation about having that kind of over countywide umbrella is interesting but you know I think One of the reasons why it's working is because each little community has power over their own system there. And so I think sometimes a bigger organization sometimes leads to less local control, and water is what they always say, whiskey's for drinking, water's for fighting. And so getting it to work the way we do in this county, I'm going to be in favor of going much further than we already have with our water agency. We already have a strong team with a lot of authority and sometimes even go outside their mission to solve community problems.

And so I think I think where we are striking a careful balance there, Why the grand jury would want. I didn't suggest to make that recommendation, but I think that as far as the county goes that we keep going down the current course where we're on because it seems to be moving in a positive direction. That's obviously recognized here. So thank you.

Yeah if I might clarify that was the previous report so the grand jury is saying well done

now. It works.

Okay, so I just need a motion and a second to accept A14.

I'll move A14

All second. Okay all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Motion carries Final item here is A15 Madam Clerk

Thank you. Thank you, madam chair. I just wanted to

Well, there's a lot of people to think on this one but I think Supervisor Hartman will do the other side. I'll thank Santa Maria Fire Department and Chief Dandridge for some forward thinking in this. This is now what's going to happen is they'll be microchip reading machines at five different Santa Maria fire stations so if you find a lost dog instead of having to try to go somewhere else figure out where the pound is and all those types of things.

All you have to do is go to a trusted fire station, and we'll be able to do pet reunification. So I think it's just a really cool low-cost way to make people's lives better so always can support those things. So big shout out to Santa Maria Fire as well as all the other folks that Supervisor Hartman is going to thank

Well

I just wanted to mention the Animal Care Foundation because they're financing this but it does take a lot of cooperators. When I was driving here today in my neighborhood, I saw black dog running free and I thought well if I were Coming to this meeting, I would make sure you know try this out. But I think we all run into situations like that and this makes it much more efficient. I have run into dogs taking them to the Humane Society and then It just takes a lot more time so I think this is an extraordinarily innovative low cost program. So just kudos to everybody who put it together

Excellent. Animal Services Director, are you here? Do you want to speak to it or you're here for something else with your dog? Okay do you want to tell us about your dog? I feel like you might because

I have a whole entourage actually

okay tell us

So what we brought with us today is a sample of what the chip stations look like along with a workup of instructions in English and Spanish on how to use it, and a 24-hour phone number that finders can call to try and locate owners of pets. And if you were here before this meeting actually started, you will know that even seasoned professionals like myself can lose an animal.

But no, this is really an amazing collaboration between so many organizations. Lee Heller who wrote our grant, the Santa Barbara Foundation who issued the grant, Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation whose Coordinating the installation with several other civic groups in the area, the Santa Maria Fire Department as was mentioned and we're just very excited to be able to get this tool in the hands of our community.

That's excellent. Supervisor Lavarino?

Thank you and I just want to chime into this only works if your animal is microchipped

Correct.

And I would like to invite all veterans, anybody that's a veteran that has a pet you can come to the Fair Park on October 25th for the 13th annual stand down and we will microchip your pet for free as well as give them food and leashes and bathings and all kinds of other things.

That is a great plug. We will also be there coordinating, handing out supplies and things. And is this dog? This is Ari. Ari is available for adoption. He's terrified of the world. He's kind of like agoraphobic. He loves my house. He is fantastic in my house with people and dogs and just hates the world. The world is scary.

Yeah he

looks very sweet.

Thank you. Thanks for being here.

I just wanted to say something really quick and that is that 20 microchip. Oh, I'm sorry. Linda Greco with the Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation and so what I wanted to say was is that 20 scanners were what we have in the first five will be put in Santa Maria and so I'm really proud of the fact that our community will be receiving these and look forward to hopefully your support on things thank you.

Thank you so much it's very exciting Wonderful okay now is the time for general public comment. Oh we need a motion and a second for that please. I'll

move that.

Supervisor Lavagnino?

I'll second.

We got a second by supervisor Hartman all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Motion carries and now is the time for general public comment, time for folks who want to speak about items not on our agenda today Madam Clerk

Chair Kaps and members of the board, we have 24 requests to speak from the public on general public comment today. And we're going to begin on Zoom with Jacob Lesner Buxton to be followed by Stephen Brown. Jacob?

Good morning Board of Supervisors. My name is Jacob S. Norbergstein and I'm the system coordinator with Access Central Coast, formerly Independent Living Resource Center. We serve people with disabilities and older adults in Santa Barbara County I'm here today to ask you to please negotiate in good faith with the IHSS providers in the county that do a better job helping senior people with disabilities stay in their community and they need a generous wage increase in order to keep providing good care to senior people with disabilities. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Jacob. We will now go to Stephen Brown to be followed by Liliana Manrique. Stephen?

Good morning chair caps, good board members and good morning to those present in person. And on zoom. My name is Stephen Brown, and I live in the lovely town of solving. Firstly, thank everyone. In fact, I want to thank everyone for this living example of how democratic governance works. It is a precious gift that we too often take for granted. Thank you On a rainy foggy evening in the spring of 1775 is silversmith and small business owner, along with two others road through the New England night to warn of the coming war with the British Empire.

Their names were Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott. Everything was about to change the very next day the first battles of the Revolutionary War were fought and born out of that conflict was our revolutionary form of government a government of by and for the people. Since then, there have been moments like that when whether this ongoing experiment in self-governance would fade away or thrive. Whether together we would continue to craft laws and institutions to govern ourselves or surrender that right to some few in power.

I believe today that experiment is once again under assault not by a king an empire, not by a foreign dictator but by established members of our own commonwealth It is under assault by the President of the United States, the Republican Party, its wealthy donors and Republican appointed members of the judiciary. Here in Santa Barbara this assault has been carried out by ICE period full stop to those who doubt who believe it'll work itself out I suggest you're either not paying attention or your complicit or politically speaking you're an idiot We are being called to decide, are we passionate and committed to democracy and the rule of law or does something else?

If the former then we need to choose and decide not looking back. Not seeking a way out learning where to how and how to resist to fight as individuals, as elected officials, as local and state governments. Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. I want, I believe we all want to be able to say whatever the outcome that we fought a good fight. We left it all on the field. Thank you.

We will now go to Liliana Manrique to be followed by Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt. Liliana? And Liliana. Oh, there you go. I see you just unmuted yourself. Please proceed.

Good morning. I hope you can hear me good morning chair caps and supervisors. My name is Liliana Marriquez for Proyecto Accessible program here in Santa Maria and I'm here to speak on behalf of the importance of the fair wages in Santa Barbara County specific to those within the migrant indigenous communities I'm strongly, I'm here to strongly support the United domestic workers request given their concerns related to their wages. Their lack of health care insurance and their lack of vacation time many of our caregivers that provide services identify as indigenous. Many of them have. Indigenous families members with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

These are the families that harvest our food in the fields, they care for our elders, they care for their children, for their neighbors with disabilities. They are too often paid within poverty wages And with little opportunity to advance as they live under a constant fear and uncertainty in the times that we're living in now. I do want to just share one story, a mother in our community, a migrant indigenous worker woman who has a daughter with cerebral palsy she works long hours in caregiving while also supporting her daughter through high school. She had balanced coursework, medical appointments and daily care. And thanks to her strength, this class of 2025, her daughter was able to graduate. And yet despite her sacrifice and her dedication to helping her daughter, this mother and this family still struggles to earn and make enough money to make ends meet.

So within our county's aging population and giving these kids that are constantly given neurodivergent diagnosis, these rates are growing and the demand for care is increasing. And without these livable wages, without opportunities for career pathways so the sustainability of this workforce is not there. So within especially caregivers within indigenous migrant communities They are the backbone of our community and investing in them and investing in a healthier, more compassionate Santa Barbara County. So I'm here to support and we urge the Santa Barbara County to center people with disabilities and support the lives of these workers and enhance their living conditions. I appreciate your time.

We will now go to LaWanda Lyons-Pruitt to be followed by Sarah McDonald.

Good morning chair caps and supervisors. LaWanda Lyons-Pruitt representing the Santa Maria Lompoc branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, you know us as NAACP. I'm here to speak for the in home supportive caregivers currently earning just $18.67 per hour no medical No vacation, and the offer on the table is 33 cents per hour bringing their salary to $19 an hour.

Now I'm not here to throw you or anyone else under the bus when y'all receive your pay increase which went up about 56,000 annually as I totally agree with the increase Based upon aligning your compensation with county benchmark and data from similar counties in California, which is where these caregivers are. I remind you that minimum wage is $16.50 per hour. You can go to McDonald's, you can make $20 an hour.

I think 33 cents per hour is insulting and we can do better than that. Unless we want to record a message as Walmart did some years ago, encouraging their employees to apply for public service. Please do the right thing and bring your staff and direct your staff to negotiate in good faith and provide these caregivers with a fair living wage. That's all that they're asking for. Thank you.

We will now go to Sarah McDonald to be followed by Nancy Avosi. Sarah?

Good morning, I'm Sarah MacDonald. I am a community member. I represent, I belong to many organizations as you know and my heart is with the caregiver. I was a caregiver for my parents and my late partner And if I had had a little bit of stipendiary help, which this during that day during those times, I would have been able to start building up quarters for my social security.

I'm imploring you to do the right thing and to pay a living wage to a caregiver This will enable them to get the other benefits that they need for not only health, vacation. It will help bring up their morale and maybe get more people into the field. Caregiving is the hardest work you'll ever do and you'll ever love. And it's not just in your home is to other people within the community.

And we have a big, beautiful bill that may require work requirements. This may be the way to get that going so that people can be streamlined into being caregivers and make money and not have to lose their services. Thank you.

We will now go to Nancy Avosi to be followed by Ariel Goodson. Nancy?

Dear members of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, my name is Nancy Avos and I'm here on behalf of the Santa Barbara County Action Network and the Gray Panthers Santa Barbara network urging you to invest in our caregivers who take care of our county's older adults Both the Santa Barbara County Action Network and the Gray Panthers Santa Barbara network agree that caregivers should be paid a livable wage, much higher than the proposed $19 per hour.

The MIT Living Wage Index estimates a living wage should be $30.98 for caregivers. We request a similar amount which would keep caregivers in our area and sustaining our population especially where we expect our population to shift towards having more seniors. Please note that the Gray Panther Santa Barbara Network is requesting $30.98 per hour for our caregivers, contrary to the amount written in the original written public comment. Thank you.