The County of Santa Barbara Rec Masterplan Workshop
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All are welcome to join a Virtual Public Workshop for Parks, Recreation, and Trails Planning for the County of Santa Barbara
Thursday, December 8 at 5:00 PM
The Comprehensive Plan provides goals and policies to guide land use and development, and the Land Use Development Code (LUDC) regulates development consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. This existing recreation policy framework is outdated and no longer reflects current and future parks, recreation, and trails needs.
The County is developing potential amendments to its recreation policy framework to guide the long-term provision of parks, recreation, and trails in unincorporated areas. These amendments will provide goals and policies for park and recreation projects and support for the implementation of the Countywide Recreation Master Plan, which is currently under development.
The County is seeking public participation in the development of new goals and policies for parks, recreation, and trails, including:
- Parks serving local neighborhoods and communities
- Sports fields and courts
- Community centers and recreational facilities, including pools and aquatic centers
- Trails for hiking, biking, and equestrians
- Coastal access and beaches
- Camping and low-cost overnight accommodations
- Rural and agricultural recreation and agritourism
- Equitable access & recreation for all
- Sustainable recreation
- Community health and active living
- Public-private partnerships to support public recreation projects
We invite everyone receiving this notice to spread the word about this important opportunity to participate in recreation planning for the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. |
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| The County of Santa Barbara is in the mix of a massive effort to reduce homelessness. The Point-In-Time Count is an essential aspect of the County’s efforts to help tackle homelessness. We are recruiting volunteers to conduct interviews with individuals and families experiencing homelessness during the Point-In-Time Count on Wednesday, Jan. 25, between 5:30 and 8:30 a.m. Volunteers must register online at countyofsb.pointintime.info and have access to a smartphone.
All volunteers are required to attend a virtual training session. In this 1-hour session, you will learn more about the importance of the count, review canvassing best practices, explore the PIT survey tool, FAQs, and more! To make this training as accessible as possible, the online training is at varied days and times between January 16 – 20. Only one training is required.
The PIT count is only possible with a community-wide effort through the incredible support of many volunteers and partners. Your help is important in capturing this crucial community data. |
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Free COVID and Flu Vaccine Clinic
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| As we celebrate the holidays together, it is so important to continue to take precautionary measures to protect ourselves and others. COVID-19 can spread even when people don’t have symptoms. Help stop the spread by testing, monitoring symptoms, and retesting 3–5 days after. Visit publichealthsbc.org/testing/. Be sure that you are up to date with all your vaccine. The Carpinteria Children’s Project will be hosting a Free COVID-19 vaccination event and will have a limited number of Flu Vaccines. |
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| It is the giving season. The County of Santa Barbara doing its part to collect is collect Toys for Tots. Dropoff boxes can be found in the lobby of the County Administration Building at 105 E Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara. All toys collected through the Toys for Tots campaign will stay in our community and will be distributed to low-income needy children through the Unity Shoppe.
Santa Barbara County Supervisors will be Topping Off the Box at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 13 in Santa Barbara.
The boxes will be picked up on Dec. 15. County employees and the public are encouraged to drop off new unwrapped toys in the boxes. The public can also find the Toys for Tots boxes at Santa Barbara County fire stations. Toys can be dropped off anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week.
Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Major Bill Hendricks, USCR, and a group of Marine reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. |
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| November was a busy month for County Animal Services, taking in 117 more pets in need than the same time last year, 334 pets total. This past week alone, the SBCAS shelters took in 87 pets, and on Friday, December 2, there were no vacant kennels to house new strays. SBCAS leadership alerted the community, and over the weekend, 33 pets went into homes.
Along with foster caregivers and adopters who provide support, the volunteer program at SBCAS has bloomed significantly over the past few months. Between the two SBCAS shelters, volunteers donated over 1300 hours of their time in November, assisting with basics like cleaning but also ensuring that each pet has the best experience they can while in a shelter. As we head into the holidays, more volunteers are needed.
To learn more about pet adoption, fostering, or to become a volunteer, visit
https://linktr.ee/sbcanimalservices
Santa Barbara County Animal Services takes in about 5,000 pets annually across two shelter locations:
South County: 5473 Overpass Rd, Goleta, CA 93111
North County: 548 W Foster Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93455 |
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Gumdrop enjoying her cozy foster home
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
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| United Way of Santa Barbara County, in partnership with AARP and the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara, will be hosting Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) workshops across Santa Barbara County from February to April of 2023. They are looking for volunteers. Carpinteria Children’s Project (CCP) will be hosting VITA workshops in Carpinteria and is looking for volunteers to help out. High school students are welcome to volunteer. CCP will be offering community service hours. Please see attached flyer. |
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Would you like to serve your community?
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Current SBC District 1 Commissioner Vacancies:
- County Riding and Hiking Trails Advisory Committee
- Air Pollution Control District Community Advisory Council
- Human Services Commission
For more information on each commission visit and to apply, visit:
Santa Barbara County Boards and Commissions
Please contact Esme Estrada in my office if you have any questions
Direct line: 805-568-2155
Email: esestrada@countyofsb.org
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| I am sure that you have been watching the continued war of aggression against Ukraine with anguish. Unable to win on the battlefield, Putin is striking terror and destroying infrastructure with Iranian-made suicide drones, cruise missiles, and the like. Below is a picture of a bomb crater where my best friend’s son used to play in Kyiv. It is important to achieve victory with speed to save lives, and there is a way you can help. A friend and I have been raising a small amount of money to manufacture drones in Ukraine and send over drones and drone parts from the U.S. Check it out at Drones 2 Ukraine and help if you can. Drones for scouting and surveillance reduce casualties. Winter is coming, as is a large amount of Russian conscripts. Now is the time to help. |
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View from my friend’s apartment
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The children’s park outside my friend’s home
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