Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding a proposed Ordinance enacting a business license tax on the business of producing oil and Resolution to place an Ordinance on the Ballot, as follows: (EST. TIME: 1 HR.)
a) Receive and consider a report from staff regarding a possible business license tax on the business of producing oil in the unincorporated areas of the County;
b) Consider the introduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance enacting Chapter 22 Article VI of the Santa Barbara County Code imposing a business license tax on the business of producing oil;
c) Read title: "Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara Enacting Chapter 22 Article VI of the Santa Barbara County Code Imposing a Business License Tax on the Business of Producing Oil" and waive reading of the Ordinance in full;
d) Appoint member(s) of the Board of Supervisors to author, sign and submit on behalf of the Board an argument in favor of the business license tax ballot measure and any rebuttal; and
e) Set a hearing on the Administrative Agenda for February 4, 2014 to consider recommendations, as follows:
i) Consider adoption (Second Reading) of an Ordinance enacting Chapter 22 Article VI of the Santa Barbara County Code imposing a business license tax on the business of producing oil;
ii) Consider the adoption of a Resolution proposing to impose a business license tax on the business of producing oil, submitting the proposed Ordinance and ballot language to the electorate for approval, and requesting and ordering consolidation with the June 3, 2014 general election;
iii) Direct the Clerk of the Board to forward the Board-initiated Ordinance to County Counsel for the preparation of an impartial analysis; and
iv) Determine that the above actions are not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines because they consist of the creation of government funding mechanisms which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment, and direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption on that basis. The proposed Ordinance states that prior to commencement of any project that may result from the expenditure of revenues from this tax, any necessary environmental review required by CEQA shall be completed.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY