Supervisor Gregg Hart
Representing Santa Barbara County's Second District
Hello
I'm Gregg Hart, your County Supervisor. I hope you’re enjoying the start of autumn. I'm writing today to update you on some of the efforts of my office over the past several weeks. As always, please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you. You are more than welcome to call my office at (805) 568-2191, email me at ghart@countyofsb.org, or visit my website: www.countyofsb.org/bos/hart.sbc .
Public Safety Power Shutoff Alert
Southern California Edison (SCE) is currently considering conducting Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) operations in several areas throughout the South Coast of Santa Barbara County this weekend. Please click here to view SCE's most up to date information on potential PSPS operations. To view the County's interactive map for areas that SCE has identified for PSPS operations, please click here . This map allows you to enter your or any address to see if the address is located in an area that has been notified by SCE or PG&E of a potential planned outage, OR is currently experiencing a PSPS planned outage.
 
  Although the County does not have jurisdiction over these events, the Office of Emergency Management is leading the County's efforts to ensure that public agencies are ready to respond to potential disruptions in power. For more information on how you can prepare for a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff, please click here. Also, please make sure that you are signed up for the County's emergency alert system.
 
SCE will be coming to the Second District on November 7th to hold a community forum on Public Safety Power Shutoff operations. The event will take place at Earl Warren Showgrounds’ Warren Hall from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Earl Warren Showgrounds is located at 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. In preparation for the community forum, please share any feedback that you have on SCE’s Public Safety Power Shutoff operations here . 
Regional Fire Communications Facility
On October 1st, my colleagues and I voted in support of the creation of a Regional Fire Communication Facility, a public safety dispatch center that will be operated through a partnership between our County Fire Department and several local Fire Departments. 911 calls that involve fire or medical emergencies will be routed to the Regional Fire Communication Facility for specialized dispatch services. Borderless dispatch -- a strategy for dispatching public safety resources that are closest to emergencies, regardless of jurisdiction -- will be a primary goal of this new facility. Additionally, this specialized facility will focus on practicing Emergency Medical Dispatch, a technical process for gathering information about the symptoms that a patient is experiencing, assisting first responders, and providing first aid directions to people calling 911. At this time, the County is planning to locate the Regional Fire Communication Facility at the Emergency Operations Center, as part of an expansion of the existing facility. For more information on the development of a Regional Fire Communications Facility, please click here . 
Strategic Energy Plan
On September 1 st , the Board of Supervisors approved the County’s Strategic Energy Plan, a plan for expanded renewable energy development in Santa Barbara County. The Board also directed staff to begin implementing Phases 1 and 2 of the plan. Phase 1 includes developing a utility-scale solar ordinance, updating County policy to allow solar projects on agricultural lands, and creating an energy assurance plan for the County. Phase 2 includes updating the Coastal Zoning Ordinance to allow for wind energy generation, and conducting outreach to businesses and agricultural landowners to encourage renewable energy generation. For more information, please click here . 
Oil Spill Boom Deployment Drill at Goleta Beach
On October 9 th , I joined the Santa Barbara County Fire Department as they conducted an oil spill boom deployment drill at Goleta Beach. As part of the 2019 Oil Spill Contingency Plan, the Fire Department has taken on the role of being a first responder and initial incident commander for local oil spill incidents. The Fire Department has also appointed an oil and gas emergency planner. I’m proud of our Fire Department’s collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, United States Coast Guard, and local environmental groups. To learn more about the Oil Spill Contingency Plan, please click here .
Santa Barbara County Veteran of the Month
This month, I have the privilege of selecting the Santa Barbara County Veteran of the Month. I'm humbled to have the opportunity to recognize Private First Class Arthur Petersen as our Veteran of the Month. Private First Class Petersen served in the United States Army’s 101 st Airborne Division during World War II as a paratrooper from 1943-1945. Private First Class Petersen has been awarded two Purple Heart Medals, the Bronze Star Medal, and the French Legion of Honor Medal in recognition of his heroism during D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. An immigrant from Mexico, Private First Class Petersen became a US Citizen two weeks before D-Day while stationed in London. For the past several decades, Private First Class Petersen has been an active member of our community, generously giving his time to organizations and causes that he cares about.
Santa Barbara County Response to the Conception Tragedy
Last month, our County responded to the Conception Tragedy. Over the past month, our community has mourned the lives lost in the disaster and begun the process of healing. I'm proud of the work of our Sheriff's Office, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Behavioral Wellness, District Attorney's Office, and allied agencies in providing a high level of service to the families of the victims, and the public, during the most difficult circumstances. Please click here to access resources if you are in need of any assistance in the aftermath of this tragedy.
County Clean Commute Program
On September 17 th, my colleagues and I voted to approve the County’s Clean Commute Program, an initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in County operations. As part of this program, County employees will be encouraged to commute in a more sustainable manner through the use of mass transit, rideshare, and zero emission vehicles. To implement this program, the County will increase rideshare parking spaces, provide additional electric vehicle charging stations in County parking lots, offer flexible scheduling accommodations for employees who use alternative transportation, and provide county employees with discounts for purchasing zero emission vehicles and e-bicycles, in addition to other incentives. As one of the largest employers in the region, I'm pleased to see the County leading the way in improving sustainability in workforce commuting. For more information, please click here .
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