Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding prohibition of unauthorized use of County-owned property such as immigration enforcement; Safeguard the integrity of County-administered elections and the protection of ballots once they are cast and Evaluate, where legally permissible, to prohibit immigration detention or enforcement facilities within the unincorporated County, as follows: (EST. TIME: 1 HR. 30 MIN.)
a) Protect access to County services by adopting the “Use and Preservation Policy for County Owned Property and County Parks and Recreation Areas” clarifying that County-owned property shall not be used for unauthorized purposes and that immigration enforcement activities at County parks and recreation areas are special events;
b) Take further actions to safeguard our upcoming elections, inform the public, and assure voters that they can vote safely and their vote will be counted in Santa Barbara County. These include but are not limited to:
i) Request the Clerk Recorder Assessor Registrar of Voters (Elections Division), in coordination with the District Attorney, Sheriff’s Office and County Counsel, report on protocols and training for the June and November 2026 election cycle to prevent voter intimidation and to address any attempted use of polling locations or County property for immigration enforcement or other activities that could interfere with voter access by May 5, 2026;
ii) Receive a report on County Employee Election Officer Program that encourages County employees to be trained poll monitors on election day and be paid their regular wages (similar to employees working in the Emergency Operations Center during times of emergencies); including efforts as to how awareness of that program can be increased and the program might be expanded upon, by May 5, 2026;
iii) Request the Elections Division in coordination with the Public Information Officer to issue clear, user-friendly, public guidance as to how ballots will be protected from any interference, including federal, state, county, and local entities, by May 5, 2026; and
iv) Request that County departments assist with the distribution of a “Know Your Rights” voting flyer. This flyer will be distributed to all members of the public, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, etc. prior to the June and November 2026 elections;
c) Direct the Planning and Development Department to analyze and report back to the Board on land use, zoning, and permitting tools that may be used to prohibit the siting, expansion, or use of immigration enforcement facilities and detention centers in unincorporated areas of the County, including public notice and discretionary review options; and
d) Find that the recommended actions are not a “Project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Guideline sections 15378(b)(4) and 15378(b)(5), because they consist of organizational and administrative activities of government and the creation of government policies that do not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.