13 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
The placement of Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (SBCOEM) as a subordinate division within the Santa Barbara County Fire Department is negatively impacting the ability of SBCOEM to fulfill program responsibilities.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
The placement of Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (SBCOEM) as a subordinate division within the Santa Barbara County Fire Department is negatively impacting the ability of SBCOEM to fulfill program responsibilities. The Board of Supervisors disagrees. The Board of Supervisors disagrees that placement of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) within the Santa Barbara County Fire Department negatively impacts OEM's ability to fulfill its statutory responsibilities. The Grand Jury Report does not establish a causal relationship between the County's organizational structure an...
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct the CEO to return SBCOEM to a direct-report position.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct the CEO to return SBCOEM to a direct-report position. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or reasonable. The Board of Supervisors believes the current organizational placement of OEM provides significant operational and organizational benefits by integrating emergency management with one of the County's primary emergency response agencies. Changing the reporting relationship would reduce operational integration without addressing the organizational improvem...
F2
Current staffing at Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (SBCOEM) is not sufficient to meet all program responsibilities.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Current staffing at Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (SBCOEM) is not sufficient to meet all program responsibilities. The Board of Supervisors disagrees. 3
The Board of Supervisors disagrees. This report does not include an objective workload analysis demonstrating that existing staffing levels prevent the County from performing required emergency management functions. Placement in the Fire Department provides even more resources to support OEM with an entire fleet of emergency trained firefighters to support OEM staff during an emergency. Appropriate staffing should be det...
R2
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors increase SBCOEM staffing to 12 full-time employees.
Response: Requires Analysis
Score: 0
below.
Recommendation 2
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors increase SBCOEM staffing to 12 full-time employees. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. This recommendation requires further analysis. The County will retain an independent consultant with expertise in emergency management organizational assessments to conduct a comprehensive review of the OEM program. The assessment will evaluate: • statutory responsibilities; • operational workload; • staffing assignments; • service levels; • organizational efficiencies; • shared departmental resources; • coordination with ...
F3
SBCOEM does not currently have a fully trained cadre of 204 Disaster Service Workers (DSW) that can report to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when needed for extended activations.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
SBCOEM does not currently have a fully trained cadre of 204 Disaster Service Workers (DSW) that can report to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when needed for extended activations. 4
The Board of Supervisors disagrees. The Board of Supervisors disagrees that it lacks a trained cadre of DSWs capable of supporting EOC activations. Santa Barbara County maintains policies, procedures, and training requirements governing DSW assignments through Chapter 12 of the Santa Barbara County Code, the Countywide Disaster Service Worker Policy, and the annually updated Operational Area Integrated Prepa...
R3a
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct SBCOEM to implement an EOC Training & Exercise Program that provides a regular, annual training and exercise schedule for at least 204 county DSWs.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct SBCOEM to implement an EOC Training & Exercise Program that provides a regular, annual training and exercise schedule for at least 204 county DSWs. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. This recommendation has been implemented. The Board of Supervisors has implemented this recommendation through Chapter 12 of the Santa Barbara County Code, the Countywide Disaster Service Worker Policy, and the annually updated Santa Barbara County Operational Area Integrated Preparedness Plan. These documents establish annual EOC training, positi...
R3b
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct the CEO to require all department heads ensure selected County Disaster Service Worker staff participate in a SBCOEM EOC Training and Exercise Program.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct the CEO to require all department heads ensure selected County Disaster Service Worker staff participate in a SBCOEM EOC Training and Exercise Program. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. This recommendation has been implemented. The Countywide Disaster Service Worker Policy requires department heads to identify EOC personnel, maintain staffing depth, ensure assigned employees complete required training, and provide employees with sufficient time to complete that training. 5
Recommendation 3c
The Grand Jury recommends that th...
R3c
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors ensure department head cooperation in the SBCOEM Training and Exercise Program by adding the DSW participation requirement to their annual performance review process.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors ensure department head cooperation in the SBCOEM Training and Exercise Program by adding the 2025-2026 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury 14 DSW participation requirement to their annual performance review process. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. This recommendation has been implemented. County policy establishes management accountability for Disaster Service Worker preparedness by requiring Department Heads to ensure compliance with required emergency management training. Management performance evaluations include responsibility for...
F4
Because inspection, training and exercise responsibilities of oil and gas facilities was removed from SBCOEM and shifted to the County Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division approximately 10 years ago, the County is not in compliance with the Santa Barbara County Operational Area Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Because inspection, training and exercise responsibilities of oil and gas facilities was removed from SBCOEM and shifted to the County Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division approximately 10 years ago, the County is not in compliance with the Santa Barbara County Operational Area Oil Spill Contingency Plan. The Board of Supervisors disagrees. The Board of Supervisors disagrees that reassignment of certain oil and gas preparedness responsibilities resulted in noncompliance with the Santa Barbara County Operational Area Oil Spill Contingency Plan. The current organizational model places oil s...
R4a
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors relocate the Oil and Gas Program back to SBCOEM.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors relocate the Oil and Gas Program back to SBCOEM. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or reasonable. 6
The Board of Supervisors believes the current organizational placement provides operational efficiencies, improves preparedness, strengthens coordination between planning and response, and avoids unnecessary duplication of responsibilities. To further strengthen the program, the Fire Department will update the Operational Area Oil Spill Contingency Plan and relat...
R4b
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct SBCOEM to participate in Unified Command during any future oil spill incidents.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct SBCOEM to participate in Unified Command during any future oil spill incidents. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or reasonable. Unified Command participation is appropriately carried out through the Fire Department's designated Local Government On-Scene Coordinator, who represents the County during oil spill incidents while maintaining coordination with the County EOC and OEM. The Board of Supervisors believes this structure provides clear operational le...
F5
Because SBCOEM does not currently have an active Disaster Service Worker Volunteer (DSW-V) Program as provided for by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the County is not taking advantage of valuable volunteer resources.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Because SBCOEM does not currently have an active Disaster Service Worker Volunteer (DSW-V) Program as provided for by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the County is not taking advantage of valuable volunteer resources. The Board of Supervisors disagrees. The Board of Supervisors disagrees that it is not utilizing valuable volunteer resources. Santa Barbara County actively coordinates with numerous volunteer organizations through established Operational Area partnerships, including the Santa Barbara County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), the Medical Rese...
R5
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct SBCOEM to restore a comprehensive DSW-V Program that registers, trains, and utilizes the services of local volunteer emergency communication organizations.
Response: Requires Analysis
Score: 0
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct SBCOEM to restore a comprehensive DSW-V Program that registers, trains, and utilizes the services of local volunteer emergency communication organizations. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. This recommendation requires further analysis. Chapter 12 of the Santa Barbara County Code authorizes the use of Disaster Service Worker Volunteers and provides the framework for coordinating volunteer resources during emergencies. The Board of Supervisors will include DSW Volunteer programs within the independent organizational assessment...
