Santa Barbara County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Barbara County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Bicycle Safety
Santa Barbara just landed on a list of California's most dangerous cities for cyclists, putting local leaders on the hot seat to fix unsafe streets. If you ride a bike around town, you know the infrastructure needs a serious upgrade to keep people safe.
Catalytic Converter Theft Regulations
The county advanced an ordinance to close a legal loophole by making possession of unattached catalytic converters without proof of ownership illegal.
Fire Department User Fee Updates and Chapter 15 Amendments
The Fire Department proposed updating user fees and modifying county code Chapter 15 to reflect the actual cost of providing plan checks, inspections, and permits. The updates seek to align fees with state regulations and recover operational costs.
Alleged Real Estate Fraud and Property Ownership
A resident brought forward concerns about property documents filed in Isla Vista following a death, asking the county to investigate potential fraud and inheritance issues regarding a multi-million-dollar apartment complex.
Sheriff's Fleet Management Pilot Program Expansion
The board reviewed the success of the Sheriff's Enterprise fleet leasing pilot, which showed cost savings over general services, and discussed transitioning more vehicles to electric fleets.