Board of Supervisors - County of Santa Barbara - 09/01/26

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on September 1, 2026, addressing multiple procurement and policy matters. Key procurement-related discussions included the adoption of amendments to the county's land use and development codes to regulate utility-scale solar projects, including establishing a 15-acre tier one exemption for agricultural solar projects, a 16,000-acre cap for larger solar facilities, and new setback requirements for battery energy storage systems. The board also approved a mid-cycle fee reassessment for the San Ynez Coastal Resources Mitigation Fund, increasing annual fees from the San Ynez Unit oil project to support coastal enhancement grants. Additionally, the board received a fiscal year 2025-2026 fourth quarter budget status report highlighting a positive general fund variance but noting deficits in the sheriff's office and public defender's office. A significant policy discussion involved adopting an interim urgency ordinance and initiating a public process to establish countywide land use standards for firearms retailers, including a proposed 1,000-foot buffer zone from sensitive child-serving locations and a moratorium on new or expanded firearms retailers pending permanent regulations. The board voted 4-1 to approve this ordinance and related actions. Other agenda items included updates on winter storm preparations and the Santa Barbara County Wine Improvement District annual report. Motions were passed on all major items, with some dissent on the solar ordinance cap and firearms retailer regulations.