Federal oil leasing plan draws widespread opposition along Central Coast Federal plans to expand oil and gas leasing across the Central Coast have sparked significant opposition in Santa Barbara County and surrounding areas, as residents, environmental groups and state off...

Federal plans to expand #oil and #gas leasing across the Central Coast sparked significant opposition in #SantaBarbaraCounty and surrounding areas, as residents, #environmentalgroups and state officials weigh in during a now closed public comment period
santamariatimes.com/news/local/f...

#WatchICE #ICE
3/18 6:41 AM
#Carpenteria:

La Migra fue vista por la Nipomo y Linden en Carpinteria.
🚗 Pathfinder, Murano, Expedition, Explorer.

From 805undocufund #RapidResponse for Tri-counties, #SantaBarbaraCounty

Planning staff: 612 new-unit permits in 2025 but county still behind on some RHNA categories The 2025 Comprehensive Plan Annual Progress Report shows Santa Barbara County issued 612 building permits for new units in 2025 (452 South Coast, 160 North County) including 226 ADUs; staff warned the county remains behind on parts of its RHNA allocation and is subject to SB 423 streamlining if progress does not accelerate.

Santa Barbara County issued 612 building permits in 2025 but is still falling short on its housing goals, risking state intervention if progress doesn't pick up!

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment #HousingNeeds

Maga can suck it... gas is $5.39 this morning up over a buck in a couple days. The station on the corner changed prices 3 fkn times yesterday. People are complaining about 3.50? Gas wasnt even 3.50 here before this shit started
#SantaBarbaraCounty

Board adopts Isla Vista mandatory-waste ordinance to curb litter and consolidate accounts Supervisors approved revisions to County Code Chapter 17 requiring property-owner accounts, increased minimum service by bedroom, mandatory recycling carts, and a phase-out of 32‑gallon detachable cans; the changes include a waiver through July 1, 2028 to allow site adjustments.

Isla Vista is taking a bold step to tackle chronic litter with a new mandatory-waste ordinance that promises to reshape waste management for good!

Learn more here

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #SantaBarbaraIslaVista #CitizenPortal #CommunityCleanliness #SustainablePractices #WasteManagement

SBCAG discusses SB 375 reform options and adopts 2026 state and federal legislative platforms SBCAG heard staff analysis of SB 375 implementation challenges for a tourism‑ and slow‑growth county and approved its 2026 federal and state legislative platforms, authorizing staff to join statewide reauthorization principles and pursue advocacy in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

SBCAG is tackling the challenges of Senate Bill 375 as it sets ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets while addressing the unique needs of rural and tourism-dependent communities.

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #SustainableCommunities #TransportationReform #CitizenPortal

Santa Barbara County moves to tighten sidewalk-vending rules, approves six-month enforcement pilot After months of complaints about unpermitted food operations and safety hazards near schools and highways, the Board of Supervisors approved a six-month pilot and directed staff to refine ordinance language to bar vending within 500 feet of schools during school-sponsored events.

Santa Barbara County has just approved a groundbreaking six-month pilot to regulate sidewalk vending, sparking heated debates over safety and fairness in the community.

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty #CommunityEnforcement #FoodSafety

Behavioral Health officials brief supervisors on BH Connect participation; county opts into some components Behavioral Wellness staff presented BH Connect (state Section 1115 demonstration) and said the county will opt into Access Reform and IPS (supported employment) but not ACT/FACT or IMD FFP, citing fiscal and staffing impacts; board received the presentation and filed it.

Santa Barbara County is making strategic choices in behavioral health by opting into key components of California's BH Connect initiative while navigating potential financial impacts.

Learn more here!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #BehavioralHealth #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty #CommunityInreach

SBCAG approves 12‑month pilot to expand intercity passenger rail along LOSSAN corridor The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments approved a 12‑month, 365‑day pilot cooperative agreement with LOSSAN and VCTC to add an inner‑city Amtrak Pacific Surfliner round trip between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, with SBCAG’s share about $1.1 million and a proposed late‑April/early‑May launch.

Santa Barbara County is set to launch a new inner-city passenger rail service, connecting Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo with daily trips starting this spring!

Learn more here

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #SustainableMobility #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty #CommuterRail #PublicTransportation

Planning commission approves as‑built 235‑foot sound wall at 1410 North Jameson Lane The commission approved a minor conditional use permit and coastal development permit validating an as‑built 235‑foot CMU plaster sound wall with engineered venting, found exempt under CEQA §15303, and granted a limited 50‑to‑43‑foot creek buffer reduction for about 13 linear feet.

Montecito's Planning Commission has given the green light to a 235-foot sound wall that promises to reduce noise from Highway 101, but what does this mean for the local environment and community?

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #SantaBarbaraCountyPlanning #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety

Montecito commission backs countywide tiered solar ordinance, certifies program EIR and flags battery safety questions The commission unanimously recommended the Board of Supervisors adopt countywide ordinance changes and certified a program‑level EIR that establishes a four‑tier permitting system for solar and co‑located battery storage. Commissioners and members of the public pressed staff on battery safety, fire risk and flood/mudslide exposure; staff said project‑level review and building/fire permits remain the primary safety checks.

Montecito's Planning Commission has taken a bold step toward a sustainable future by recommending a tiered permitting system for solar projects, but concerns about battery safety and environmental risks loom large.

Read the full story

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalImpact

Planning commission approves Plantel Nurseries east‑side expansion with mitigations and reduced oil‑well setback The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission on Feb. 11 approved Plantel Nurseries’ plan to expand greenhouse operations onto about 77 acres of a 137‑acre parcel, adopting a mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring program; the approval includes a waiver of landscaping in large uncovered parking areas and a petroleum‑code setback reduction authorized by the county petroleum administrator and CalGEM conditions.

The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has unanimously approved an ambitious expansion plan for Plantel Nurseries, paving the way for new greenhouses and a water-recycling facility—are you ready to see how this will impact the community?

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA

Planning commission workshop narrows Recreation Benefit Program choices; stakeholders press for setbacks and strong AEO safeguards At a Feb. 11 workshop, county planning and parks staff sought commissioner guidance on the Recreation Benefit Program (RBP) incentives, setbacks, parcel‑size limits and process/appeals to shape a programmatic EIR; growers, equestrians and conservation groups urged strong setbacks, AEO consistency and meaningful public outreach.

Santa Barbara County's Planning Commission is narrowing down key policies for the Recreation Benefit Program, but the debate over agricultural setbacks and community input is heating up!

Get the details!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #RecreationBenefit #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty

After public outcry, Santa Barbara supervisors order deeper audit and monthly overtime reports for sheriff's office Following hours of public comment and an auditor's presentation showing rising overtime costs, the board directed a deeper audit of sheriff overtime items the auditor identified, monthly reporting for six months, and an analysis of the board's authority under state law regarding an inspector-general-style review.

In a bold move for accountability, Santa Barbara County supervisors are launching a deeper audit of sheriff's office overtime costs amid rising public concern and demand for transparency.

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty #TransparencyInGovernance

Santa Barbara County OKs $5 million construction-management contract for North Jail design, directs fuller analysis in April The Board of Supervisors approved a not-to-exceed $5 million contract for a construction manager tied to the proposed North Jail expansion but directed staff to return in April with comparative analyses (one-pod vs. 1.5-pod) and emphasized the contract does not commit the board to a specific construction size.

Santa Barbara County has taken a significant step towards expanding the North Jail with a $5 million management contract, but community voices are demanding alternatives to incarceration before any final decisions are made.

Learn more here!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CriminalJusticeReform

Committee to update 2026 list of shovel-ready capital projects for federal and state funding Staff told the committee it will update the county’s priority list of shovel-ready capital projects used for earmarks and discretionary funding; members discussed Lower Mission Creek, Kachuma facilities (federal ownership complications), and past Oasis Center/library earmarks.

Santa Barbara County is gearing up to tackle crucial capital projects, but which ones will snag federal funding?

Get the details!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CommunityProjects #CitizenPortal #FundingOpportunities #SantaBarbaraCounty #InfrastructureDevelopment

Santa Barbara County OKs $5M construction‑management contract for North Branch Jail, directs April cost comparisons The Board approved a not‑to‑exceed $5,000,000 construction‑management agreement for the Northern Branch Jail design‑build process and directed the CEO to return in April with cost and operational analyses comparing a 1‑pod, 1.5‑pod and Northwest rehab options; the vote was unanimous.

Santa Barbara County just approved a $5 million contract for jail construction management, but the debate over expanding or rehabilitating facilities is heating up—what will the board decide next?

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CommunityRehabilitation #CitizenPortal

Board directs expanded review after audit finds ~$20.4M in sheriff overtime; orders monthly updates and Inspector General analysis Following an internal audit that found FY24–25 sheriff overtime totaled about $20.4 million and highlighted coding, standby and comp‑time practices, the Board ordered further Auditor review, monthly administrative reports for six months, a comparison of top overtime‑generating departments by Aug. 1, and a staff analysis of AB 1185 options for an Inspector General.

Santa Barbara County's audit reveals a staggering $20.4 million in sheriff overtime, sparking demands for deeper oversight and accountability.

Learn more here!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #PublicOversight #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty #LawEnforcementReform

County committee backs exploring bill to let counties use CEQA exemptions and local preferences for workforce housing The committee asked staff to draft options to extend CEQA exemptions like AB 1021 to county-owned property, and to explore whether counties can include local preference or employee housing restrictions similar to those allowed for school districts. Staff will return with language and analysis ahead of the Feb. 20 legislative introduction deadline.

Santa Barbara County is considering new legislation that could streamline housing development for local employees, aiming to tackle the workforce housing crisis head-on.

Learn more here!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #LegislativeReform #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #SantaBarbaraCounty

County staff: partial federal shutdown creates uncertainty but appropriations package preserves key programs Don Gilchrist told the Legislative Program Committee that six of 12 appropriations bills have become law while the remaining package — including transportation, housing and Labor-HHS funding — is stalled pending final House-Senate agreement; the package preserves several county priorities and includes a $23 billion boost for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, Gilchrist said.

As the federal government faces another partial shutdown, crucial funding for transportation, housing, and disaster relief hangs in the balance, sparking concern among county leaders.

Learn more here!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #SantaBarbaraCountyFederalAffairs #CitizenPortal #DisasterRelief

Board gives first reading to Isla Vista residential permit and commercial meter ordinances; public debate on access and enforcement The board introduced ordinances to establish an Isla Vista residential parking‑permit program and commercial parking meters, set a July 20 hearing for adoption, and heard public proposals including a beautification work‑for‑permit pilot and concerns from Surfrider about coastal access precedents.

The Santa Barbara County Board is taking a bold step towards parking reform in Isla Vista, but community concerns about access and enforcement are heating up the debate!

Get the details!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #SantaBarbaraIslaVista #CitizenPortal #PublicAccess #CommunityEnforcement

Board adopts tiered winery permitting rules to streamline small producers, directs staff to adapt for legacy 661 zoning After multi‑year stakeholder work, supervisors adopted a tiered permit system for wineries (tier 1 land use permit up to 20,000 cases; tier 2 zoning administrator; tier 3 planning commission), with detailed standards on setbacks, tasting rooms, lighting and event caps; board asked staff to produce a focused amendment for properties under legacy ordinance 661.

Santa Barbara County has just adopted groundbreaking tiered zoning rules for wineries, balancing growth for small producers with vital environmental protections!

Get the details!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #ZoningReform #CommunityParticipation #SantaBarbaraWineries

Santa Barbara County weighs sales-tax measure to close multi-year shortfall as jail expansion looms County staff presented two sales/use-tax options to close a projected multi-year deficit; supervisors debated whether revenue should fund operations or be used toward a proposed $50 million north-county jail expansion, and public commenters urged alternatives and protections for social services.

Santa Barbara County is facing a critical decision on a local sales tax to address a budget shortfall while simultaneously debating the need for a $50 million jail expansion—what will they choose?

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty #SocialServices

Santa Barbara LAFCO approves five-year service-review work plan, declines immediate AI contract The Local Agency Formation Commission voted unanimously to move forward with a staff-led five-year municipal service review focusing on fire, police and EMS; commissioners asked staff to collect overtime and dispatch data and declined to purchase a proposed $175,000-per-year AI subscription without a vendor briefing.

The Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission has launched an ambitious five-year plan to revamp emergency services reviews, but what’s holding them back from embracing AI technology?

Get the details!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty

County report: inspections show broad compliance on offshore platforms but aging infrastructure needs monitoring Energy Division presented quarterly inspections of federal platforms, nearshore piers and onshore facilities showing frequent MMS inspections, corrective actions for priority deficiencies, and concerns about aging infrastructure and smaller operators; board directed continued quarterly reporting.

Santa Barbara County's latest report reveals strong compliance in federal platform inspections but raises alarms about aging infrastructure and lingering risks.

Learn more here!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #SantaBarbaraCounty #PublicAccess #EnergyCompliance #InfrastructureSafety

Santa Barbara supervisors pause plan to place 1¢ unincorporated sales tax on June ballot after public debate County staff outlined two options for a 1¢ sales tax in unincorporated Santa Barbara County to help close a projected multi‑year budget shortfall; after detailed presentations, public testimony and board deliberations the Board took no action to place the measure on the June 2, 2026 ballot.

Santa Barbara County's proposal for a 1¢ sales tax to combat a looming $66 million budget deficit has sparked intense public debate and could be a critical lifeline for essential services.

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #BudgetReform #PublicSafety

#MoniqueLimon President Pro tempe of California Senate from #SantaBarbaraCounty supports California # 747 to ensure peoples constitutional rights esp in this moment She says there have been 1400 people detained from SB county

Interview with Ricardo Valencia, candidate for fifth district Santa Barbara County supervisor, at the ICE Out of 805 protest in downtown Santa Maria, California on February 1, 2026.

#fyp #santamariavalley #santabarbaracounty #santamariacalifornia #805

Mutual Aid Fund Our Mutual Aid Fund exists to provide immediate, flexible, and community-led support to immigrant families and individuals facing harm due to immigration enforcement, detention, displacement, and othe...

Just donated $20 to 805UndocuFund's more general Mutual Aid Fund.

To donate, text 805FOOD to 707070 or visit www.pledge.to/mutual-aid-f...

#mutualaid #the805 #cacentralcoast #venturacounty
#santabarbaracounty #sanluisobispocounty #slocounty #fuckICE #fuck🧊

Supervisors adopt ordinance package to streamline permits and update housing rules, with Montecito modifications The Board approved an ordinance-streamlining and housing-accommodation package to modernize permit processes and update open-space, density and commercial-depth rules; the board accepted several Montecito-specific recommendations and clarified 'primary street frontage' language for neighborhood-commercial zones.

Santa Barbara County just adopted a groundbreaking ordinance package to simplify housing permits and zoning rules, aiming to balance growth with community needs.

Click to read more!

#SantaBarbaraCounty #CA #ZoningReform #PublicParticipation #SantaBarbaraCountyHousing #PermittingStreamlining