Santa Barbara County's Third District Supervisor |
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Greetings!
Happy Holidays! 2021 has been a roller coaster of a year that brought both challenge and perseverance. Throughout the course of this year, I've been continually impressed by the resilience of our communities, the resolve and bravery of our frontline workers, and the support we have shown each other.
Throughout this pandemic, I along with dedicated County staff, have been working to ensure that your local government continues to deliver the highest level of service. Below are just a few highlights of what I've been working on at the County over that past year. Please enjoy reading and I also encourage you to watch the year in review video by the County CEO's office.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday and a healthy and happy New Year.
My warmest regards,
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Hedges House of Hope Shelter Opens in Isla Vista |
In July, the Hedges House of Hope opened in Isla Vista, providing 50 transitional shelter beds and programming for adults experiencing homelessness.
Ed’s story, recently featured in the Santa Barbara Independent, illustrates how a life can be transformed with the right support. Just a year ago, he was living in one of the three large encampments that sprouted up in Isla Vista during the Pandemic. He'd spent the previous 5 years living on the street. When he learned of the Pallet Park being erected in Isla Vista as a 6-month experiment to temporarily house and stabilize houseless people from the encampments, he requested shelter. That program helped 21 individuals move into permanent housing, including Ed, who is now living in an apartment of his own and has taken a job with Good Samaritan. He works at the Hedges House of Hope, giving back to the program that helped him. Ed’s case demonstrates that long-term unsheltered individuals can turn their lives around and make a difference in the lives of others.
Across the County, the County added 374 new rapid rehousing slots, 86 permanent units, and 147 new temporary housing beds in 2021.
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Photo Top Left: The County and Good Samaritan Dream Team that helped to purchase, open and operate the Hedges House of Hope in Isla Vista. Top Right: I tour the facility with staff and local reporters. Bottom: A photo of Ed, who moved from an Isla Vista encampment into permanent housing and now works at Hedges House of Hope. |
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$18+ Million of Parks Bond Funding Secured for
Park Projects in Santa Barbara County
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Photo Below: 2019 Proposition 68 Summit which I hosted with California State Parks to educate and prepare local Parks and Recreation Departments for Proposition 68 Grant Opportunities
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In December, four local park projects were granted more than $18 million in Proposition 68 (Parks Bond) funding, including:
Lompoc’s College Park that will include a new skate park, ball courts, and picnic area ($3.65 million).
In 2018, I led a group of political and non-profit leaders who advocated for the passage of Proposition 68 and also worked to support a number of these successful project applications.
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Community Choice Energy Comes to Santa Barbara County |
In 2021, Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) launched across Santa Barbara County. 3CE provides clean energy at lower rates than Investor-Owned Utilities. Since its inception, 3CE has delivered an estimated $17.1 Million in cost savings to its customers. 3CE also has funded local programs such as battery storage and incentives for electric cars and chargers.
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Top photo: Breaking ground at Tajiguas Landfill.
Photo below: The completed project.
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New County Facilities Open |
In July, the County opened the ReSource Center at Tajiguas Landfill, a state-of-the-art waste management facility that will increase our community’s recycling rate to above 80%, create compost, and capture landfill gas to generate electricity to power 1,000 homes. This project accounts for the single largest reduction of greenhouse gases in the County, equivalent to taking 25,000 cars off the road each year.
In November, the County cut the ribbon at the Northern Branch Jail, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility.
Planning has commenced for the new regional dispatch facility, a partnership among County Fire and each city in the County to ensure “borderless dispatch”— that the closest possible resource will arrive when you call 911.
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Planning Begins for SYV Refugio Road Trail Restoration / Safe Routes to School Project |
In response to community concerns, I was able to secure $250,000 for the first phase of restoring trails along Refugio Road to provide a safe walking /biking route to Santa Ynez High School and new recreational trail opportunities. Planning and community outreach for this project recently began in December and is now underway. Learn more here.
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Lompoc Valley Fuel Reduction Project Completed |
in 2021, The County Fire Department's Fuels Crew completed 126 acres of vegetation clearance to reduce wildfire risk around the communities of Vandenberg Village, Mesa Oaks, Providence Landing and Mission Hills. The $2.23 million grant which funded this project includes maintenance of the clearance for the next two years.
The County is in final negotiations with the Space Force Base and the Federal Bureau of Prisons regarding a new emergency fire egress from the community of Providence Landing.
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Board Unanimously Passed Budget Enhancing Parks, Roads, Libraries, and Key Support Services
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In June, the Board unanimously passed a balanced budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The budget restores the County's emergency reserves and enhances funding for parks and trails, libraries, homeless and COVID-19 response. Here are some of the highlights:
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$7 million+ for new recreational parks, trails, campgrounds, amenities, and open space;
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Data technology and positions to achieve costs savings and better allocate resources;
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New funding for equity and inclusion initiatives;
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Initiatives in mental health services to divert mentally ill individuals away from the criminal justice system; Support for Laura's Law and co-response teams;
- New shelter beds and staffing to support those experiencing homelessness;
- New safe routes to school and active transportation projects;
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Funding to improve road quality and upgrade bridges across the county;
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Funding for sustainability initiatives and GHG emission reductions;
The budget also included $2 million to protect the San Marcos Foothill Preserve and $1.5 million for new soccer fields in Santa Maria. The Board subsequently approved $2 million for the Food Bank which has provided more than 20 million pounds of food to the community in the past year.
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Since 2020, every County department has engaged in the COVID-19 response, adapting to deliver essential services, assistance, and care to our community.
In 2021, the County helped administer 695,000 vaccine and booster doses and oversaw the administration of 94,000 COVID-19 tests.
The County was also able to secure $57 million in rental assistance from state and federal sources administered through our housing assistance division in partnership with the United Way. The Board also dedicated tens of millions of dollars of assistance to businesses, households, and non-profits.
At the Board's direction, the County invested in multi-faceted bilingual outreach to ensure that every community in the County received education and correct information about COVID-19.
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Key Planning Efforts Make Headway |
Throughout 2021 County staff worked diligently on a number of important planning studies - conducting outreach and collecting stakeholder input. Many of these studies will be completed in 2022 and there are still opportunities to participate. Below are links to some of these planning efforts where you can learn more about how to get involved:
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SBCAG Passes Connected 2050 Regional Transportation Plan |
In August, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) adopted the Connected 2050, a 30-year plan for the County’s future that balances transportation and housing needs with social, economic, and environmental goals. The final plan prioritizes balancing housing and jobs, making sure both are connected with public transit, bike paths, and pedestrian-friendly streets.
Connected 2050 identifies priority projects and $11.3 billion in sources available to fund these projects.
Learn more about Connected 2050 here.
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2021 Year in Review - A Video Annual Report from the County of Santa Barbara Executive Office |
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Click below to watch a 10-minute video that summarizes the County in action in 2021. Thanks to all the County employees and partners that worked tirelessly to serve our residents. |
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Contact Us
Phone: (805) 568-2192
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