Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding enforcement at the Hot Springs trailhead on Red Flag Warning days through 2025, First District, as follows: (4/5 Vote Required)
(EST. TIME: 1 HR.)
a) Direct County staff to coordinate with appropriate local, state and federal agencies, including Fire agencies and U.S. Forest Service as appropriate, to develop parking restrictions and trail closures on Red Flag Warning days through 2025 in the area of the Hot Springs Trail in the First District, and return to the Board for required approvals;
b) Request that the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office implement enforcement measures for compliance with parking restrictions and trail closures once established;
c) Request the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office work with the U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement enforcement measures following heavy rainfall on the Hot Springs Trail to prevent illegal watershed modification and unauthorized activity;
d) Approve Budget Revision Request No. 0010328 to increase appropriations of $25,000.00 in the Sheriff General Fund for Salaries and Benefits from 990 fund balance for these enforcement efforts, funded on a reimbursement basis as required and approved by the County Executive Office; and
e) Determine that the approval of the action is not a project that is subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) and (b)(5), finding that the actions are 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 impact on the environment and are organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.