Board of Supervisors meeting summary | 105 East Anapamu Street | Santa Barbara | The Common News

Summary

Board of Supervisors meeting summary

Santa BarbaraJan 5, 20261 min read

At a glance

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No reportable action was taken. The Board heard public comments about county budget allocations and spending practices, and comments thanking first responders for storm response and noting community loss. In closed session, the Board discussed existing litigation involving Sable Offshore Corp. et al. v. County of Santa Barbara et al. and one anticipated litigation matter.

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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Topics discussed

Budget & Tax

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What this means

This meeting did not produce any new decisions for residents. Public speakers raised concerns about how county money is being allocated and spent, and others thanked first responders for work during recent storms. The Board then met in closed session to discuss a lawsuit and a possible future legal case, but took no reportable action.

Key decisions

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No reportable action taken in closed session.
No report from the County Executive Officer.

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Meeting information

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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Jan 5, 2026, 5:00 PMCOUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BOARD HEARING ROOM, FOURTH FLOOR 105 EAST ANAPAMU STREET, SANTA BARBARAscheduled

SPECIAL MEETING

Agenda

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors currently provides in-person participation as well as remote participation until further notice. Board members and the public may participate from the County Administration Building, Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor located at 105 East Anapamu Street in Santa Barbara or the Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building Board Hearing Room located at 511 Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria. The following methods of participation are available to the public: 1. You may observe the live stream of the Board meetings in the following ways: - Televised in English and Spanish (SAP channel via Comcast and Cox) on local cable channel 20; - Online at: <https://www.countyofsb.org/1333/CSBTV-Livestream>; and - YouTube (English) at: <https://www.youtube.com/user/CSBTV20> (Closed Captioning Available) - YouTube (Spanish) at: <https://www.youtube.com/@csbtv20espanol> 2. If you wish to provide public comment, the following methods are available: - Distribution to the Board of Supervisors - Submit your comment via email prior to 5:00 PM on the day prior to the Board meeting. Please submit your comment to the Clerk of the Board at: sbcob@countyofsb.org. Your comment will be distributed to the Board and posted online. Whether the comment is formally part of the record depends on the agenda item it is submitted for and its length and time of submittal as set out in Board Resolution 91-333 (Land Use). For planning, zoning and subdivision hearings, submissions more than one page in length must be filed with the Clerk no later than 12:00 PM on the Friday before the Board hearing unless the Board by motion and 4/5 vote determines to accept a late submission. - Attend the Meeting In-Person - Individuals are allowed to attend and provide comments in-person at the locations noted above. - Attend the Meeting by Zoom - Individuals wishing to provide public comment remotely can do so via Zoom by clicking the below link to register in advance. Important Note: Zoom is not intended for County staff to view the meeting. Please refer to the viewing methods outlined above. Register for Public Comment in advance for this meeting: https://santabarbaracounty.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_-DLFbSe_TnK0hKCPxG1YfQ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing important information about joining the webinar. Please review the Zoom protocols below, as follows: 1. Once the Chair has announced the item you want to comment on, please join the meeting. 2. You will be placed on mute until it is your turn to speak. You will be able to hear the Board meeting live after calling in and will need to turn off or mute your TV or the web stream to avoid sound interference. 3. The Clerk will call you by name. When removed from mute, you will hear a notification that your line has been unmuted. If you are using a touchtone phone, you may need to press *6. 4. Each person may address the Board for up to three minutes at the discretion of the Chair. If you have any questions or if you are participating in the hearing telephonically or electronically and need a disability-related modification or accommodation or have any issues attempting to access the hearing, please contact the Clerk of the Board's Office at (805) 568-2240 or sbcob@countyofsb.org.
Board Meeting Procedures
Late Distribution and Ex-Parte Communication
Disclosure of Campaign Contributions
Closed Session
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Disability Access and Accommodation Requests
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9:00 A.M. ..... Convened to Regular Session
Supervisor Nelson participated from the following remote location: Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) 1215 K Street Suite 1650 Sacramento, CA 95814
Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
County Executive Officer's Report
County Executive Officer’s Report: Receive a report from the County Executive Officer (CEO) on County programs, County staff updates and achievements, staff recognitions, updates on major projects, updates on state and federal legislation, and upcoming events of interest to the Board and the public. There will be no Board discussion except to ask questions or refer matters to staff; and no action will be taken unless listed on a subsequent agenda. Video Highlight - Your County, Your Services: Citizen Access Portal On-Demand Permits
Public Comment Period THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS RESERVED FOR COMMENT ON MATTERS WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. EACH PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR UP TO THREE MINUTES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR, FOR A TOTAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF NO MORE THAN 15 MINUTES. (Resolution No. 09-368) (26-00002) WHEN TESTIFYING BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, PERSONAL ATTACKS AND OTHER DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR ARE NOT APPROPRIATE.
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Recessed to Closed Session
Closed Session
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code section 54956.9) Sable Offshore Corp. et al. v. County of Santa Barbara et al., U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Case Number 2:25cv04165. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code section 54956.9) Deciding whether to initiate civil litigation: 1 case.
Report from Closed Session
Adjourned at 10:22 AM Adjourned to Tuesday, January 13, 2026
County Administration Building Board Hearing Room 105 East Anapamu Street , Fourth Floor Santa Barbara
Challenges
IF YOU CHALLENGE A DETERMINATION MADE ON A MATTER ON THIS AGENDA IN COURT, YOU MAY BE LIMITED TO RAISING ONLY THOSE ISSUES YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE RAISED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE, OR IN WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AT, OR PRIOR TO, THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Announcements
The meeting of Monday, January 5, 2026 will be telecast live on County of Santa Barbara TV Channel 20 at 9:00 AM, and will be rebroadcast on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM and on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM on CSBTV Channel 20.
http://www.countyofsb.org
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