Title
Consider recommendations regarding a proclamation of Local Emergency caused by the 2025-2026 Holiday Storms, as follows: (4/5 Vote Required)
a) Find that due to a series of atmospheric river storms that began on December 23, 2025 (25STM3), an emergency situation existed pursuant to Government Code sections 54954.2 and 54956.5 that required immediate action, which need for action arose after the agenda for this meeting was posted (4/5 vote required);
b) Adopt a Resolution ratifying the Proclamation of a Local Emergency declared by the Director of Emergency Services on January 9, 2026, when the Board of Supervisors was not in session, pursuant to Government Code Section 8550 et. Seq. and Chapter 12, Section 12-5(a) of the Santa Barbara County Code;
c) Direct the Fire Department Office of Emergency Management to return every sixty (60) days for ratification of the Emergency until such a time that conditions dictate otherwise; and
d) Determine that the above-recommended actions are not a project that is subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5), finding that the actions consist of administrative activities of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.