May 6— County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors meeting features TRUTH Act Forum, Renewal of the Sheriff Office’s Military Equipment Use Ordinance, IV Rental Housing Inspection Pilot

D1) Extra Help Service and Retirement Waiver
(Estimated Time: 5 minutes)

Summary: 

The Board will consider the requests to hire a retired employee as Extra Help from the Planning & Development Department. Per California Government Code, the Board must approve this hiring decision because less than 180 days have passed since the retirement of this employee.

D2) Isla Vista Rental Housing Inspection Pilot Program
(Estimated Time: 1 hour) 

Summary: 

The Board will consider adoption of an ordinance to amend Chapter 10, Building Regulations, to establish a 12?month pilot rental housing inspection program within the community of Isla Vista. The Pilot Program would allow the County to proactively inspect rental properties in Isla Vista for safety and code violations to ensure all rental units meet basic health and safety standards, hold landlords accountable, and protect tenants from exploitative practices.

D3) Art Tours and Home Occupations Ordinance Amendments
(Estimated Time: 30 minutes)

Summary: 

The Board will consider changes to the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) to facilitate community events such as artist, garden, and architectural tours within the unincorporated Inland Area of the county, outside of Montecito. These events provide an important community resource, and it has long been an objective of the County to update its zoning code to accommodate such events. In addition to and supportive of the periodic tours, the amendments propose modifications to the standards and permit requirements for home occupations, as these regulations govern the use of artist studios and other home occupations that often participate in these community events. These amendments align with a broader County effort to streamline permit processes where appropriate.

D4) Request for Financial Assistance by Developer and Eligible for Deferral
(Estimated Time: 45 minutes)

Summary: 

The Board will hear a request from Red Tail Multifamily Land Development, LLC for a loan, to help finance the construction of an affordable housing project by deferring direct payment of certain development impact fees. Payment of development fees is required by County Code. Staff supports a loan amount of $1.1 million at 3% simple interest to cover some of the Project Development Impact Fees. This project aims to provide 106 affordable units, out of 517 total units, in the unincorporated Goleta Valley.

D5) Renewal of the Sheriff’s Office

Military Equipment Use Ordinance
(Estimated Time: 30 minutes)

Summary: 

The Board will hear the annual report on the Sheriff Office’s use of military equipment and will consider renewing the Sheriff Office’s military equipment use policy and the ordinance that supports it. Adopting this ordinance allows the Sheriff’s Office to use and acquire military equipment which includes armored vehicles, large-caliber firearms, kinetic energy projectiles, breaching tools, and “flashbang” grenades. This policy and ordinance must be reviewed and renewed annually.

D6) Annual TRUTH Act Report and Community Forum
(Estimated Time: 2 hours)

Summary: 

The Board will hear the annual Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act Report and hold a public hearing.  This forum is to provide information to the public about ICE’s access to individuals and to receive and consider public comment. In 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) submitted inquiries or requests for access to 229 incarcerated persons. 39 responses were sent to ICE, and 13 persons were re-arrested by ICE officers following their release from the County Sheriff’s Office custody.