Santa Barbara County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Barbara County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Orcutt Library Project Funding and Delivery
The county is moving forward with financing and design options for a new Orcutt Library co-located with the OASIS Senior Center. Residents strongly advocated for full funding of the project to serve the rapidly growing community.
Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels
Abandoned and wrecked boats washing up on county beaches pose environmental and safety hazards, with toxic materials leaking into the ocean. The problem has worsened due to stricter enforcement in neighboring city marinas.
State Ballot Measures (Props 1 and 45)
The board debated and voted on statewide ballot measures, strongly opposing Proposition 45 over environmental review rollbacks while splitting on Proposition 1 for housing bonds.
Los Olivos Wastewater Loan
The board approved a $750,000 no-interest loan to help Los Olivos CSD complete engineering design for a sewage pipeline.
Federal Hunt Amendment Opposition
The board voted to oppose federal legislation that would use eminent domain for the Santa Ynez Pipeline, overriding local and state environmental controls.
Resilient Cuyama Valley Initiative Grant
The county is applying for a $27.5 million state grant to fund housing, energy, water, and food security projects in Cuyama.
Transient Occupancy Tax Enforcement and Farm Stays
The board debated the application of hotel lodging taxes to agricultural farm stays, resulting in a penalty waiver for a Lompoc operator and direction to review the TOT ordinance.
Homelessness Response and HARP Initiative
The county reviewed its annual homelessness data, highlighting progress in encampment cleanups and introducing a new interdepartmental collaboration called HARP to unify data and prevention efforts.
Annual Truth Act and Values Act Compliance Review
Residents and supervisors debated whether the county should adopt a formal policy restricting immigration enforcement activities on county-owned property and parks, with supporters citing fear in immigrant communities and opponents raising legal and supremacy clause concerns.
Zoning Ordinance Ministerial Streamlining
The county is looking at ways to cut red tape by making routine permits for homes and businesses ministerial, meaning faster approvals without public hearings or appeal periods. This could significantly lower building costs and shorten delays, though some community members worry about losing oversight on neighborhood compatibility.
Election Security and Outreach
The board addressed growing concerns regarding voter intimidation and ballot security ahead of the 2026 elections, directing election officials to enhance public outreach, poll worker programs, and safety guidance.
Workforce Housing Development at 117 East Carrillo Street
The county established a new local housing marketing program requiring developers on the South Coast and in the Santa Ynez Valley to conduct 12-week targeted local marketing campaigns. This aims to give local workers a better chance at securing newly constructed market-rate housing amidst high commute rates and low vacancy.