Board of Supervisors — 2025-10-14

Good morning, everybody. I'm calling to order this meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for October 14th 2025. Clerk please call the roll.

Second.

Thank you Supervisor Nelson. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Motion carries.

Madam

CEO.

Good morning chair and board members. Just a quick announcement, and it's to congratulate our fire department in the county fire department received a $999,000 Cal Fire wildfire prevention grant through California Climate Investments to conduct approximately 250 acres of prescribed burning And that concludes my announcements. Okay, thank you for that CEO's report.

Good morning, chair caps and members of the board. I have one brief announcement regarding public participation this morning for the Board of Supervisors methods of public participation in 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 2 if you have any questions please contact Again, that number is 805-568-2240. And that concludes my announcements for today.

Okay now we'll move to the administrative agenda and we have a couple that have been pulled by the board, A9 and A19. How about the public? Has the public pulled any Madam Clerk?

Chair Kaps, members of the Board, We have no request to speak from the public on the administrative agenda

Okay with that I'll entertain a motion to approve the balance of the administrative agenda except for the ones I just mentioned 89 in a 19. So moved

second

okay, we've got a motion and a second all those in favor please say aye motion carries. Let's move to our resolutions please.

Chair Capps and members of the board. Administrative item number one is sponsored by Supervisor Capps. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming October 2025 as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Santa Barbara County, and joining us in person today we have Chris Sherwick, Gary Coverdale, Andre Montessori, Greg Milligan, members of the Information Technology Department ITD, EITC Policy Committee, and the department information security officers. And if you can please all make your way Now go ahead and read the resolution.

Whereas Santa Barbara County recognizes the vital role that the Internet and information technology play in the daily lives of county staff and residents, and their internet users and the nation's information infrastructure face an increasing threat of malicious cyber attack loss of privacy from malware and significant financial and personal privacy losses due to identity theft and fraud.

And whereas during the past year, the county has been maturing and strengthening its cyber security posture through additional policies and updated systems. On September 21st 2021, the Board of Supervisors adopted 20 detailed National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST based technology cybersecurity policies. Cybersecurity policies are utilized in the Governance, Risk and Compliance GRC system for all departments to manage their adherence to these policies and controls. And whereas the County's cybersecurity program has expanded countywide with annual cybersecurity training for all county users required for continued use of county technology resources. The yearly required training launches every October and the county has recently added a training and certification path for all departmental security officers.

Now therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby acknowledge the month of October 2025 as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month passed and adopted today.

Well good morning Chair Caps and members of the board. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month across the entire country. It is a good reminder for all of us to make sure that we are making the investments, we're going through the training making sure all county staff are aware of the importance of protecting our counties data So this is an important month for us as you mentioned Jacqueline that this is an opportunity for everyone at the county to undergo formal training to make sure that we're doing the best we can in order to ensure that we're reducing the risk to our data to our constituents to all of us at the county. The bad guys are continuing to get smarter and smarter And so we have to always just stay on top of making sure that we're doing everything we can to protect ourselves.

So appreciate this opportunity, appreciate this resolution. Thank you.

Thank you so much Supervisor Hartman.

I just wanted to add that going through that training, we do it for work but it really helps at home too. I've caught things that are fraudulent coming at me at home given that training so very appreciative of it.

I know I had the same too just something came across that didn't look quite right in my email and I didn't open it so there you go okay thanks so much Madam Clerk next resolution

Good morning, everyone. Good morning. Chair caps and members of the board administrative item number 2 is sponsored by supervisor Labanino and supervisor Nelson. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of October 2025 as arts and humanities month and commending Stephanie Hassett and the Ian M Hassett Foundation for community arts impact in Santa Barbara County and joining us in person today we have As well as members from our Arts Commission. I'll go ahead and read the resolution, whereas October has been recognized as National Arts and Humanities Month by the White House in Congress for more than three decades celebrating the essential role of visual and performing arts music literature and cultural expression in building human connection and enriching our communities And whereas through the County Arts Commission and initiatives such as the percent of arts, ordinance and arts making impact grants.

The county invest in dynamic public spaces is expands access to the arts and enhances community vitality. And whereas this year the County Arts Commission has recognized Stephanie Hassett and the Ian M. Hassett Foundation with the Leadership in Arts Award for their dedication to expanding arts access and fostering cultural growth in northern Santa Barbara County.

And whereas Stephanie Hassett has built a lasting legacy of leadership, service and community resilience by co-founding the Ian M. Hassett Foundation, stewarding the Santa Maria Arts Council and helping to establish the City of Santa Maria's first public art master plan. And whereas the Ian M. Hassett Foundation has become an integral catalyst for the arts in northern Santa Barbara County, supporting emerging artists through scholarships, grants and awards, creating mentorship opportunities for young people and fostering artistic expression and confidence among adults with disabilities. Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that the Board of Supervisors for the county of Santa Barbara does hereby acknowledge October as National Arts and Humanities Month honoring the contributions of artists, cultural leaders and residents who enriched the life of our county passed and adopted today.

Good morning chair caps and members of the board, I'm Hannah rebel cover with the Office of Arts and Culture. It is an honor to recognize that he and him has a foundation and Stephanie has it with the 2025 leadership in arts award. The e n m has a foundation is powered by dedicated group of volunteers including teachers friends and family who share belief that everyone should have opportunity to experience and create art together they built programs that open doors to creativity and inclusion throughout the Santa Maria Valley It is a personal privilege for me to introduce Stephanie Hassett. Her contributions listed in the resolution would be enough to merit this recognition, but what makes her truly remarkable is she has done all of it while navigating some of life's most difficult circumstances with grace, resilience and one of the best laughs you'll ever hear.

While preparing for today, I searched for a message I wrote to her a few years ago telling her how much I admired her. I didn't find it but what I did find was more than 10 years of messages asking her can you help with this and Stephanie always replying yes. Stephanie has raised three children, including her son Alex who inspired the foundation's classes for adults with disabilities and was one of the first heart transplant recipients.

She has cared for loved ones through illness and endured the loss of her younger son Ian for whom the foundation is named. Through all it, she continues to show up for her family, her friends and for her community. Her strengths and endless capacity to give inspires us all to be better and to serve more fully. It is my great honor to present the Individual Leadership in Arts awardee Stephanie Hassett and the Organizational Leadership in Arts Award to the Ian M. Hassett Foundation.

I will be brief. That was really nice and moving, and I'm not sure who that woman is but thank you. Chair Capps, Supervisors Nelson, Lavagnino, Hartman & Lee, I am joined today by our Executive Director Ian M. Hassett as well as some of our supporters in the audience. It is always gratifying and humbling to have your efforts recognized and rewarded so let me thank the San Barbara County Arts Commission for this honor on behalf of myself A quick personal thank you to Supervisor Nelson for his support over the years.

I think we first met at one of our art shows at Core Winery about a decade ago. The goal of our foundation has been a simple one, to support and encourage young emerging artists in our community. Over the last 12 years, we were able to accomplish that through new and innovative programs like our mobile arts trailer, our art shows for young adults that allow them to show and sell their artwork for the first time, and even our art classes for adults with disabilities.

With the generous support of our community, we were able to establish an endowment account that will allow our annual grants to continue in perpetuity. We were only able to accomplish this with an army of supporters and volunteers who made these programs possible. For me the goal was even simpler. As a mom I just wanted to honor Ian's wish Before he died, that we do what we can to help young artists like himself. Sorry I did not think I was going to get emotional about this.

I am not an artist. I draw really good stick people but wanting to honor Ian threw me into a world that I was not familiar with. I felt sometimes like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole but I was warmly welcomed by a group of creative and artistic people I soon came to realize that for them, art was not a hobby. It was an undeniable driving force in their lives. For them it was like breathing and I saw how art infuses and enhances so many everyday aspects of our lives.

My hope is that we have impacted the lives of young artists we have interacted with the last 12 years in a positive way and that EAM would be proud what we've achieved. Thank you so much.

Chair Caps.

Yes,

I just wanted to take the moment just to again to thank and congratulate you on this award. Actually we have artwork in both my office and Supervisor Labadino's office that was from one of these art shows for some of your recipients from your program so We have been strong supporters. We thank you for all you guys do in the Orchid area, especially scholarships that we're getting high school and I know you guys are big supporters of the Orchids Children's Art Foundation and other arts in our community. So again on behalf of the board and of our community thank you so much Stephanie.

Wonderful Okay When we're ready, we will now take up the administrative items pulled by the board.

Yes, thank you chair caps and members of the board. We'll begin with administrative item number 9 administrative item number 9 is from the behavioral wellness department it is to consider recommendations regarding a service agreement with the projects for assistance in transition from homelessness path for transitional housing and

Yeah, thank you. I just pulled this item because I've gotten some constituent questions about PATH. I know it's such a mainstay in Santa Barbara and the area we volunteered there and people are really concerned is PATH going away? What's happening with this vital service for those who are experiencing homelessness in the Santa Barbara area so I just wanted to explain or have it be explained.

Director Navarro or Jamie has things online if you could that be great. Thank you so much. Thank you. I know it involves the city of Santa Barbara more than us, but it is somewhat involved with the county. So I thought it would be helpful to explain it.

Thank you. Good morning Chair Kaps and members of the Board. This is Jamie

Hudson,

Assistant Director for B-Well. Yes we are aware that the City is currently looking for an interim provider to help cover the shelter once PATH does exit at the end of this year And the plan is to notify us in late November of the new provider and so we hope that we will not need additional coverage because we will have a new provider at the beginning of the year.

And so no loss of continuity of care for our clients housed in that facility. In addition, this fiscal year be well contracted with 10 with dignity moves for 10 additional beds and then recently added six more to that. So we've expanded our care options population this fiscal year and we don't anticipate any loss of continuum with this transition with

Thank you so I understand it's 16, we had 16 beds and now you're saying it would be an additional potentially?

So we had, we added this fiscal year 16 beds. I see okay

all right well yeah we'll just keep us posted I'll stay in touch as well but I just again it's such a important place we hope it gets straightened out thank you for the update That's all. I guess because I pulled it, we'll have a vote on it? I'll move staff recommendation.

I'll second.

All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Okay then that brings us to A-19

Chair Capps and members of the board. Administrative item number 19 is from the Information Technology Department, it is to receive and file the ITAM 0551 Artificial Intelligence Policy approved by the Executive Information Technology Council EITC on September 24th 2025.

Thank you Chair Capps I pulled this item I'm very interested in AI and its future in county government. I know Supervisor Hartman is also very engaged in the AI space. I recently got a chance to moderate a panel of CIOs, and CTOs, and County Administrative Officers about AI in county government up At the rural counties representative of California annual meeting.

And so one of the topics that we discussed in that meeting is embedded in this policies that we're about to move forward with in the county, and that's around transparency on AI. One of my concerns, and something that's been talked about in some of the counties is about citing our work. When do we use AI? When do we not use AI? When do we tell people that we're using AI and how that affects the work that we do?

I read through our draft policy here or proposed policy. I had a few concerns about it because I believe about us requiring their employees immediately And so I want to avoid that. I have some language that to maybe soften that a little bit when it more applies to, you know professional or legal or department policies that we do that. So I like to have that may be taken. You guys take a second look. I was actually going to maybe continue it today, maybe till next week so you guys could look at the language that I have proposed to see if that's something that might be something that would be acceptable with you. I told you Chris, I wouldn't jump you with it and I'm jumping into it today.

Give us a chance to maybe continue to the next board meeting so they can look at some of these that's language and see if that would be appropriate land appropriately as well as run by County Council which I'm sure is also concerned. Again my issue is, I think that it's hard for some people to know when they're using AI when or not and so then you know I think the term that you have in this policy is substantive That's not defined as well. So I think this might soften a little bit to get people to do when they need to do it based on legal requirements or professional standards, but not necessarily trap us in this constant cycle of having to cite everything which I think is also problem because I think also diminishes I just want to say thank you so much for your time.

It's been a really great meeting and I think it shows the value of some work in part because some people think it's created by therefore, it somehow not as valuable. I think that he has got a big future in county government and I think you know, I'm really excited about what you're doing on your team and so if my colleagues would support a continuance with this item to me just take a look at

Well I'm really appreciative that you've taken a stab at this and my question is more about training. I mean, I read the policy but I'm not sure it sticks and so I think we're gonna need some kind of module that helps us like the cybersecurity. I know that we're much further along with that I just want to say thank you so much. I know this will evolve, It's a lot of the value of AI comes out of the kinds of queries that you give it so it does take something on our part to use it well and get good response. So just wanted to add that to it but it does it creates a whole complicated world because it's just sucking up data from everywhere. It will often have the sources but how do we attribute It's difficult in schools, it's difficult now in writing books and it's difficult for us.

So I am glad that you pulled that out what you know we don't really know exactly what's honest what's appropriate.

Yeah, well good morning Supervisor Hartman through the chair. So Lillis Smith who's in County HR and I co-lead the AI, the countywide AI steering committee and we have taken what you Supervisor Nelson have provided in terms of a proposed change to citations and transparency. And I think we think this looks really good so we can go in and make that proposed change to the policy I think what we realize is we need a little more clarity around that topic of transparency so it's more black and white in regards to when it's needed and when it's not needed right. So, we can make that change and then come back next week as well and double check with County Council as well on that. I'm going to go ahead and open it up for questions in regards to training.

So internally within a central I T at the county we've actually been testing out a couple different And so we've been doing some of that. And if we find the right training partner, yes, we would like to provide countywide training so that things you know like like prompt engineering and how to effectively use a I had effectively use Microsoft Copilot And on this policy as well, exactly.

That we have the appropriate training because it's critical AI is only as effective as how we use it internally right and so we need to make sure that our staff is trained and that the training as described in this policy is effective as well.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. Thank you. Thank thank you, Mr. President. Yeah. So just one other piece that you know it became evident to me to me in this conference with over 40 counties there that we are when the leaders in the space and so again, that's based on leadership that you're providing their Chris. So we really appreciate that with that I like to ask that we continue this item to next week and then have staff look at it if there's any feedback and you could probably run through your team a little bit more give to our meeting on the 21st of October.

I'll second. Okay, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Thank you. Thank you. Okay with that we have finished the administrative agenda and it looks like it's time to go to public comment

Chair caps and members of the board. We have 4 requests to speak in general public comment today we're going to begin here in Santa Maria with Ronald F Owens junior then we will go to Santa Barbara with kiss the comedian Ronald.

And just a refresher this is a time to speak on things that aren't on our agenda

Good morning, welcome. On April 14th 2022 Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Harvey Aversara said this regarding the COVID-19 vaccines he said quote We know these vaccines are killing people of color, blacks, Latinos, indigenous people at about two times the rate of white Americans. My name is Ronald F Owens Jr. I was a public information officer at the California Department of Public Health for more than 14 years. I brought this information to my management on several occasions between April of 2022 and the time that I retired in December of 2023. Unfortunately They made it about me, the messenger. Not about you. Not about the people who are in the chambers or those who may be watching.

I prematurely retired immediately incurred a 55% pay cut which is the difference between my salary and my pension and I'm not sharing this with you to toot my horn. I'm sharing this with you because I would not have risked a low paying three, six figure job if I was not convinced that these vaccines are killing people. I sent this board and your 57 other boards of supervisors across California this information.

That information included studies from Italy Germany Japan Information also included that, that particular Javier Becerra quote is still on the White House's official YouTube channel. It's still part of the public record. I also sent this board and your 57 other boards of supervisors across California an update in December of 2024. I have traveled. This is my 49th Board of Supervisors meeting I've traveled with 48 others, and I've got nine more to go. Again, I would not have ridden in the rain on a motorcycle, you can see my rain gear if I was not convinced that these vaccines are killing people.

In accordance with your concerns about cybersecurity, I'm going to forward you information that I would encourage you to read. Don't assign it to staff and I will tell you the title so you'll see it Santa Barbara County COVID-19 vaccine warning. I'll send that to you as a follow up look according to Health and Safety Code 101025 You have a statutory responsibility to preserve and protect the public health.

At minimum, you need to let your residents know that these COVID-19 vaccines are killing people. I would encourage you to direct your County Health Officer to encourage them to stop promoting, stop administering and stop distributing the COVID- 19 vaccine. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. We will now go to Santa Barbara with Kiss the Comedian and we will go to our final speaker on Zoom, Rennie Dean. Kiss the Comedian?

Steve Lavagnino! What's going on buddy how are you? Steve can you hear me? Loud and clear. Hey how are you buddy? Okay, you're not going to respond. Okay great all right I have a letter here Good morning government officials, councilmen, councilwomen, members of parliament and the House of Lords and Emperors. My name is Kiss the Comedian. I'm an artist and a YouTuber and yes, I am a black Republican. They eating the cats and the dogs!

The other night I had a dream, a crazy one. I shot a commercial with Michael Jordan for his NBA or NBC debut on October 21st Warriors versus the Lakers which is next week In my dream, my character is a photographer for the broadcaster's poster. I'm wearing my Dallas Cowboys shirt. Michael Jordan is sitting on the bleachers next to Mike Treso and Noah Eagle with a cigar in his mouth and a baseball bat in his hand. I tell Michael Jordan can you move from a little edge just a bit inside?

Jordan looks at me and asks me, what is your name photographer? I reply my name is Kiss the Comedian. Michael Jordan goes well kiss the comedian you can kiss mine and then the screen NBC logo flashes on Lakers vs Warriors October 21st and in the background the classic song starts playing Sometimes I dream that he's me You got to see, this is how I dream to be. I dream my move, I dream my groove like Mike. If I can be like Mike, if I can be like Mike, be like Mike, be like... Steve do you ever want to be like Mike when you were growing up?

Steve? Yes. Okay, just checking and also on a serious note guys I was wrongfully kicked out of the rescue homeless shelter and Steve I sent you an email I could really use your help brother if you know any services that offer hotel rooms I don't know where I'm gonna sleep tonight they kick me out for interviewing people at the rescue mission and telling sharing their stories on my YouTube channel Kiss The Comedian And, you know, if you guys have any services that can help me out. And Steve tell your dad Larry, you know how much I adore your dad and trying to go to D.C., make a name for myself and make videos with the politicians and get on Fox News. Have a book on Amazon Black Rachel.

Gay For Your Husband is on Amazon, you know and I want to put it out there like not all Republicans You know hate minorities or gay people. I bet all my Republican brothers sisters will go buy my book Black Rachel Gay For Your Husband on Amazon My dream's to sell a hundred thousand copies of my book on Amazon black Rachel and Steve I just want to say I you know if you guys can help me out Get a place tonight, or if you guys have any services. I appreciate it and God bless

We will now go to Zoom with our final speaker, Rennie Strong. Rennie? And Rennie we have unmuted you on our end if you can please unmute to provide your comments.

Can you hear me?

Yes we

can

please proceed. Hello

council constituents all that are listening to me right now This is Renny Dean-Strong, also Stop Geoengineering California Facebook page. Also the 805 Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisor Crimes Against Humanity and yeah I appreciate the gentleman that just spoke two times ago about the COVID 1984 is what I like to call it, and what needs to be called the vaccines that are killing people. The VAERS that you can see under the CDC they have to report it go look it up.

You guys are still pushing this agenda? You guys are still pushing the AI and all the technocratic Eugenics, if you don't know what those words are look them up people. You guys have had enough time to say things that need to be said and they're not being said. It's like they just keep pushing things through because just like Steve there that he hid behind his guy when I was there the last time a few months ago.

Yeah, you didn't come down to face me, you went and hid behind your guys Steve. So anyway, sorry I haven't been around but I've been waiting for and putting out calls to people that wanna gather and actually really show this null and void government that you guys are running. This dog and pony show that is not valid. You guys have already broken every man-made law that you've created, every policy you've pushed all the corruption that's going on with all that. And that makes you as a null and void government So you have broken not just man-made laws, but laws that are above your laws which are common law and above that is natural law. Above that well not above it but with it is universal law those laws are above your man-made laws and you guys are all null and void government.

And if people knew this and quit playing this dog and pony circus game and the bread and circus that Kiss the Entertainer wants to talk about and get on TV and look all, you know, get his face all looked on and looked up in whatever. Listen, we have serious issues going on and they're not being addressed. We're not speaking up together and showing what they're doing to us, the County Board of Policy Pushers, what they need to stop doing and the Palantir who's here at Brian Ehrig's Families American Storage, where the government is about AI and seeking everything about us.

And they're going to use it against us people. So don't do digital IT. Thank you, Rennie. And I'll see you guys next time. That is your time.

And that concludes general public comment for today.

OK, I have a couple of public comments. Oh sure. Not related to this. Yeah, I just I wanted to highlight. I'm a member of the summary Elks Lodge 1538 here in Santa Maria and they had recently we had our 53rd annual law enforcement appreciation awards and some county employees were honored and I just wanted to highlight them one was The first one was senior deputy probation officer Jose Macedo.

The other one was Santa Barbara County Sheriff Senior Deputy Special Duty Michael McNeil and finally from the DA's office, it was investigator Stephen Ridge and they get honored a few minute speech about what they did for And secondly, this is no relation to what happened earlier but I just need to get some direction on. I wanted to talk about our warming centers for a second because today was kind of an example and I know we're all kind of feeling this is that I got a call from a business owner had somebody that was in their lobby because are Whatever warming center we had set up closes earlier. They can't get into the regular shelter until 9 and you know, there's kind of a disconnect there. So I just kind of want to say that I'd like to kind of address that in the future as we coming up against upon winter that I kind of want to refresh my own memory about what our rules are, what centers we have, when do they open, who do we partner with and as we get towards these winter months it's kind of good to kind of hit that again so just wanted to get that out there.

Thank you. Okay thank you so much thanks for the public who spoke okay we are moving so quickly Thank you. And with that we are going to go to departmental item number one.

Chair caps and members of the board departmental item number one is sponsored by supervisor love me know it is a hearing to consider recommendations regarding the transfer of general County programs discretionary funds to the city of Santa Maria and there

Good morning, Chair Caps, members of the board. I'm Cory Bantalon in Supervisor Lavinio's office. With me this morning is Dennis Smitherman from the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department. We'll be presenting the item to transfer $1.5 million to the city of Santa Maria for the Santa Maria Sports Complex. Looks like they might have changed the name to the community sports park. Just a very brief history during the fiscal year 21-22 budget deliberations The board set aside funding for several recreational opportunities, one of which was the sports complex.

We did not immediately transfer the funds because we wanted to make sure the project was going to come to fruition and that all other funding had been secured. I'm happy to say that the city broke ground on the project earlier this year and that dirt is being moved every day although I think they might be taking a day off today with the rain. And with that, I'll send it over to Dennis to give more details on the project.

Good morning, Chair Kaps, members of the board. I'm also joined by our Recreation and Parks Commissioner Rebecca Carey. She is the chair in the audience so thank you, Chair Carey Today we're here to talk about the progress of the park and what our next steps are as we continue to move forward As you can see this is quite a large complex with typical park amenities but also the large sports We've also added a couple of futsal courts, which is great for our community as well as potentially pickleball or basketball courts.

Right now, it's a 19.7 acre regional park located across from Adam Park and also known as Manami Park because of the community center. The construction began earlier this year. We had a great groundbreaking and we're really on track at this point to be complete October 2026 depending on course the weather during the winter. As you know, this project has started back in 2015 was the first iteration of the concept drawing. We went out to community meetings stakeholder meetings and really invited the communities to participate in what they would think a sports park needs and this is what was developed.

We held 10 to 15 of these meetings throughout the community, gathered years of input and data before our first grant was written and was successfully awarded. So currently we have $6.1 million committed by the state of California, the Statewide Park Development Grant through Parks and Recreation Department. We have this contribution. We have the city of Santa Maria at least at a million dollars.

We do have a earmark funding of $1 million. And even more recently, I have updated numbers for the Community Development Block Grant that will be closer to $2 million all for this first phase of the community sports park. Like we discussed, we'll have four soccer fields in this phase. The basketball courts, community input continues to come in so we did modify that design a little bit where we're adding one full court and then two half-courts to allow for multiuse play.

We have our walking trails with exercise stations which you've seen throughout the city and are very popular. Restroom buildings and playgrounds, seating plaza with our wall and your traditional amenities. Lighting and electrical will be around the park. We'll do sports lighting to light the fields at a future phase. So as we discussed, site grading has been completed. We're really excited about that. They've been moving dirt nonstop and should be wrapping up. Utilities and paving will continue throughout the year of course weather dependent.

We're excited to be utilizing smart equipment, including a weather irrigation system that is weather dependent. I'm not going to try to pronounce that too clearly, phytoremediation landscaping. This is previous agricultural land we're going to be using plants that really clean the earth and clean the water as it trickles down. All the lighting will be LED and energy efficient.

We have some great native trees coming in and plants throughout this site. As you know, this has been about a 10-year project so far with thousands of member input from the community. Outside the community we do believe that it will be a strong economic driver for the city and county and we're going to make sure that it is a sustainable park for our community to thrive and play and really have a great time. It's been much needed and long overdue, so we're excited to continue to move forward. I'm available for any questions.

Thank you so much. Supervisor Labadino?

Let's take questions first.

Okay, Supervisor

Hartman. So is this, you said it'll be an economic driver but as you describe it looks like it's mainly for people in Santa Maria. It's not really inviting people to come from elsewhere to play. Is that correct?

Actually, what we anticipate is really being able to host quite a bit of sports competitions at this facility across the street. We have a basin that will be able to utilize as well for additional sports fields so we could be hosting seven eight or nine games at a time really to bring in those outside groups who are interested in tournaments and organized sports.

Yeah, there is a huge demand for that and people travel all over the state. And it does bring a lot of families and restaurants and hotels and RV parks. Okay well thank you I didn't understand that. Great. Yeah,

and I just wanted to add on that you know we had a lot of town halls even before this was created of it was kind of based out of some of the violence that had sprung up earlier in Santa Maria with among the youth and You know when we got all the parents together and kind of asking what's the, kept asking like what kind of program do you want thinking it was something different? And resoundingly they answered back that give us more things for our kids to do. Give us more soccer fields. We need things for kids today. We need to get them outside running around and so I just want to thank the city that they heard that because it's you know every time we go to these things we'd come back with well what about these programs? We want soccer fields.

I'm glad that that was listened to and that we're moving forward. And I'm really looking forward to getting this thing moving. I think it's a perfect location for it, as you said. You have right across, we have two elementary schools surrounding it as well on both sides so and then the basin where we're going to be able to host a lot of tournaments. Congratulations. So let me just ask, what's phase two? What are we not going to get in phase one?

It will be the sports field lighting is the top priority for nighttime and extended use. That project at this point it's an additional $2 million. And so we'll continue to go out and raise funding for that And we are taking donations from our local sports fields. Our sports organizations have contributed as well, so it's not just about grants and the ask, it's going out and raising the funds separately as well.