Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding components of a business license tax on the business of producing an onshore oil ballot measure, as follows: (EST. TIME: 2 HRS.)
a) Receive and file a report on options for structuring a business license tax on the business of producing onshore oil (hereafter "business license tax") for inclusion in the drafting of Ordinances, Resolutions and possible ballot language for potential placement on an upcoming ballot;
b) Receive and file a report on possible uses for revenues generated by a business license tax for inclusion in the drafting of Ordinances, Resolutions and possible ballot language for potential placement on an upcoming ballot if the Board chooses to create a Special Tax;
c) Consider and provide direction to staff on the following:
i) Structural options and specific revenue purposes of a business license tax in Santa Barbara County; and
ii) Creation of required documents, including but not limited to, Ordinances, Resolutions and possible ballot language, for consideration at a Public Hearing on January 21, 2014 (first reading) and adoption on February 4, 2014 (second reading) for the June 2014 Primary Election Ballot; or
iii) Creation of required documents, including but not limited to, Ordinances, Resolutions and possible ballot language, for consideration at a Public Hearing in sufficient time to be placed on the November 2014 General Election Ballot;
d) Consider setting a hearing to consider required documents for a business license tax ballot measure, including but not limited to, Ordinances, Resolutions and possible ballot language;
e) Direct staff to draft a follow-up letter to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court and copy to the Grand Jury detailing the Board's follow up action(s) on Recommendation No. 1 of the 2013 Grand Jury report titled "Taxing Oil: Tapping into Santa Barbara County's Natural Wealth" and authorize the Chair to execute the letter; and
f) 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 or other government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY