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Consider recommendations regarding a waiver of potential conflict of Edward Yates regarding the Strauss Wind Energy Project, as follows:
a) Receive a request for a Conflict Waiver that would allow Edward Yates, a Santa Barbara County Deputy County Counsel from 2007 - 2012, to represent the California Native Plant Society on the Strauss Wind Energy Project pursuant to California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.9 and 1.11;
b) Receive County Counsel’s determination that while employed with the Office of County Counsel, Mr. Yates did not personally or substantially participate in matters substantially related to the Strauss Wind Energy Project, including the Lompoc Wind Energy Project, and does not hold the County’s confidential information that would impact his proposed representation of the California Native Plant Society;
c) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute the Conflict Waiver to allow Mr. Yates to represent the California Native Plant Society on the Strauss Wind Energy Project pursuant to California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.9 and 1.11; and
d) Determine that the above action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA guidelines, as organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.