Board of Supervisors

Meeting Summary

Present: 2-Capps, 3-Hartmann, 5-Lavagnino, 1-Lee, 4-Nelson

This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details — verify against the official recording and the transcript.

At a glance

Sheriff's Department Overtime Usage, Budget Deficit, and Audit Oversight

An internal audit identified significant overtime costs linked to leave balance manipulation and extended shifts, projecting a $9 million deficit without new controls.
The Board directed the Sheriff's Office to implement stricter management controls and ordered the Auditor-Controller to conduct further reviews.
Staff was instructed to provide monthly overtime reports for six months and analyze options for establishing an Inspector General under AB 1185.

North Branch Jail Expansion Project and Construction Management Services

The Board awarded construction management services to oversee the design-build process while clarifying that no final construction scope is locked in.
Staff will return in April with a comparative analysis of one, 1.5, and two-pod options to inform future decisions on project size.
A unanimous vote adopted the agreement with a directive for the CEO's office to provide a full project scope package for the upcoming hearing.

Passed 5–0 · unanimous

Proclamation of Black History Month 2026

The Board unanimously adopted a resolution proclaiming February 2026 as Black History Month in Santa Barbara County.
The resolution recognizes the national theme and acknowledges the historical contributions of the local Black community and organizations.

175th Anniversary of Santa Barbara County

The Clerk presented a video highlighting the digitization of historical minute books dating back to 1850 as part of the anniversary series.
The Board received the informational report and expressed appreciation for the county's historical preservation efforts.

Administrative Announcements and Agenda Adjustments

The Board unanimously approved a motion to continue the Environmental Justice Element hearing to the March 10, 2025 meeting.
Administrative updates included an addendum regarding a new record retention schedule for the Clerk Recorder Division.

Closed Session

The Board recessed to discuss items permitted by law and subsequently reported out of closed session.
The meeting was adjourned with the next session scheduled for February 24, 2026.

Full summary

Agenda Item: Sheriff's Department Overtime Usage, Budget Deficit, and Audit Oversight

The Board received presentations and public comment regarding the Sheriff's Department's overtime costs, budget deficits, and staffing challenges. Public speakers urged the rejection of additional funding for jail expansion and excessive overtime until mismanagement issues were addressed, citing concerns over record-keeping, the use of leave balances to trigger overtime thresholds, and "standby" or "portal-to-portal" pay practices. Some speakers supported the overtime budget as necessary for staffing shortages but opposed specific jail expansion plans. The Sheriff's Office presented data indicating a shortfall of approximately 49 FTEs in custody and 17 FTEs in law enforcement, attributing high overtime costs to recruitment crises, arbitrary budget figures, and operational necessities such as court appearances and emergencies. The Office reported a 13.4% decrease in overtime usage compared to the previous year and noted that practices allowing overtime-exempt managers to work extra help assignments would end on March 1, 2026.
The Assistant County Executive Officer presented findings from a limited-scope internal audit of fiscal year 2024–25 overtime. The audit reviewed over 19,000 timesheets and identified eight observations, including the use of leave balances to meet overtime thresholds in 36% of timesheets (associated with approximately $5.9 million in costs), extended shifts exceeding 12 hours, and the use of comp time accounts creating a "multiplier effect." The presentation noted a projected $9 million deficit for the current fiscal year if controls were not strengthened. Discussion also covered the fiscal impact of pensionable overtime and the potential establishment of an Inspector General under Assembly Bill 1185 for ongoing oversight.
A motion was made to receive and file the report on Sheriff's overtime usage, request that the Sheriff's Office continue to explore and implement controls to manage and reduce overtime, direct the Auditor-Controller to conduct further review or audit as appropriate, and direct Human Resources to explore opportunities to improve accountability and control of overtime and comp time in upcoming labor negotiations. The motion was seconded and passed.
Subsequently, a motion was made to direct staff and the Auditor to proceed with audit recommendations, provide monthly overtime usage reports for six months, compare overtime usage across four other county departments by October, and return with an analysis of the Board's authority and options under AB 1185 to establish an Inspector General. The motion was amended to specify four additional departments rather than five. The motion was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Agenda Item: North Branch Jail Expansion Project and Construction Management Services

The Board discussed the award of construction management services for the oversight of the design-build process for the North Branch Jail expansion. Public commenters urged approval of the project manager position only with clear direction for the CEO to return with a public analysis comparing 1.0 and 1.5 housing unit options. Staff clarified that the current contract is for a design-build firm to conduct analysis and planning, not to lock in the final construction scope or size. It was confirmed that staff would return in April with a comparative analysis of one, one-and-a-half, and two pods, including operational and physical rehabilitation costs, to allow the Board to provide further direction before a construction contract is awarded. Concerns were raised regarding ensuring the contract does not inadvertently bind the Board to a specific expansion size before the April analysis is complete.
A motion was made to award the construction management services for the oversight of the design-build process. The motion was seconded and passed.
Later, the General Services Department presented a recommendation to award an agreement for construction management services for the North Branch Jail Expansion Project (Project Number 23040), which required a four-fifths vote. A motion was made to adopt the staff recommendation with direction to the CEO's office to provide a full package of information regarding the project scope for the April hearing. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.