Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
2025-2026
From the annual report
The consolidated year-end volume. The individual investigations it contains are listed separately below.
📑 Year-End Report
The full consolidated volume; individual reports are listed below.
Individual reports (9)
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Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
Some education governing boards’ agendas and public comment instructions imply that members of the public must complete a speaker card, sign-up sheet, online form, or provide identifying information in order to speak at a public meeting.
F2:
Website structure, language access, and accessibility issues at some education governing boards hinder the public’s ability to find agendas, minutes, and participation instructions, particularly for Spanish-speaking community members and individuals who rely on accessible document formats.
F3:
Some governing boards provide no way to participate remotely while public comment is officially open.
F4:
Some governing boards do not consistently post meeting minutes in a clear and easy-to- find location, which makes it harder for the public to track board actions over time.
Additional Recommendations
6
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Grand Jury recommends that each education governing board, where listed in Table 1 below, review agenda language and public comment instructions to plainly state that speaker cards, sign-up sheets, and online forms are optional tools used solely to help organize public comment, and to affirm that any person may address the board during public comment periods without providing a name, address, or other personal identifying information. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R2a:
The Grand Jury recommends that each education governing board, where listed in Table 1 below, place a prominent, direct link to current agendas on its primary homepage, as required by Government Code section 54954.2. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R2b:
The Grand Jury recommends that governing boards serving districts with more than a 20% Spanish-speaking population provide Spanish language translations of their meetings, agendas and minutes on their websites. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R3a:
The Grand Jury recommends that each education governing board, where listed in Table 1 below, provide video conferencing for remote participation, which can also be used as a broadcast archive. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R3b:
The Grand Jury recommends that, where remote participation is offered, agendas clearly explain how the public may observe and provide comment remotely at any time public comment is open. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends each governing board adopt a written practice for promptly posting approved minutes on its website. As a best practice, approved minutes should be posted within five business days after approval, with past minutes kept in an accessible online archive. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
Special Districts, for which the Board of Supervisors acts as the Board for the dependent special district, can provide additional services to residents appropriately at a local level, but not all are transparent about how funds are used. Notably, taxpayers in County Service Areas are not well informed about decision making.
F2:
The majority of the new housing projected for the South County to meet the State’s affordable housing requirements will be built in what is now CSA 3, exacerbating the issues of transparency in the use of CSA 3 funds.
F3:
More than 2.000 of the new housing units projected in the County to meet the State’s affordable housing requirements will be built outside what is now CSA 3. Those residents will require services and LAFCO-created agencies must be created to provide them.
Additional Recommendations
4
Not linked to specific findings.
R1a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors create a page on the County’s website that clearly identifies all of the dependent special districts with links to projects funded by the special taxes, revenues, expenditures, and fund balances.
R1b:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors directly notifies taxpayers in Dependent Special Districts when an item is on a Board agenda that affects either the amount of taxpayer’s Benefit Assessment or expenditures of District funds.
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors, in consultation with LAFCO, review the optimal structures for service provision in the developing areas of CSA 3.
R3:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors, in consultation with LAFCO, ensure that any agencies created to provide services to new developments in the unincorporated area of the County provide a clear explanation of what services will be provided and at what cost for the new residents.
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Findings & Recommendations
8 findings
F1:
Many student fights occur in the areas surrounding school campuses before and after school hours, outside school supervision, leaving a gap in County schools’ responses.
F2:
When children lack a set structure to occupy their time on constructive activities outside of regular school hours, they become vulnerable to recruitment from criminal street gangs.
F3:
Gangs are increasingly grooming and recruiting students in elementary, middle, and junior high schools, yet many anti-gang programs focus on older students.
F4:
Some school administrators across the County lack information to identify gang clothing, insignia, or signs.
F5:
Students who bring guns, knives, and other weapons on campus, even when provided by parents for their children’s safety, pose a threat to school safety.
F6:
Anonymous communications systems, both digital programs and physical drop-boxes, when made available to school students and personnel, can help identify gang activity ahead of serious consequences.
F7:
Socially isolated students can benefit from engagement with responsible mentors as a deterrent to negative manipulation by outside influences, such as gangs, social media, or other ongoing stresses in family life.
F8:
A task force comprised of governmental and community-based organizations in the area would aid local authorities to reduce gang effectiveness.
Additional Recommendations
11
Not linked to specific findings.
R1a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County Education Office create a template for schools’ response procedures for student safety in the areas surrounding school campuses before and after school hours. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R1b:
The Grand Jury recommends that local law enforcement agencies, in conjunction with school districts, create policies and programs to extend the safe space for students to go to or from home. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R1c:
The Grand Jury recommends that all school districts consider the templates, policies, and programs proposed in Recommendations 1a and 1b. To be implemented by June 30, 2027.
R2a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County school districts implement more after-school programs such as music, sports, art, drama, and other extra-curricular activities. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R2b:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County school districts partner with others, including community-based organizations and local government entities, such as Parks and Recreation Departments, to offer after-school programs. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R3:
The Grand Jury recommends that Santa Barbara County school districts implement programs that are aimed at dissuading elementary, middle, and junior high school students from gang membership. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County Education Office provide annual information to school administrators to make them aware of the latest gang clothing, insignia, and signs. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R5:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County school districts remind parents and guardians annually of California Penal Code Section 25100 regarding the criminalization of unsafe storage of guns. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R6:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County school districts provide all schools with anonymous communications systems for student or staff reporting of danger on and off campus, both via digital media and local drop boxes. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R7:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County school districts create systems in their schools to pair socially isolated students with school mentors. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R8:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors form a North County Youth Safety Partnership to work on gang intervention and prevention. To be implemented by December 31, 2026. REQUIREMENTS FOR RESPONSE Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 933 and 933. 05, the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury requests each entity or individual named below to respond to the enumerated findings and recommendations within the specified statutory time limit: Responses to Findings shall be either:
• Agree
• Disagree wholly
• Disagree partially with an explanation Responses to Recommendations shall be one of the following:
• Has been implemented, with a summary of implementation actions taken
• Will be implemented, with an implementation schedule
• Requires further analysis, with an analysis completion date of no more than six months after the issuance of the report
• Will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation School Boards of the following School Districts – 90 days Ballard School District Blochman Union School District Buellton Union School District Carpinteria Unified School District Cold Spring School District College School District Cuyama Joint Unified School District Goleta Union School District Guadalupe Union School District Hope Elementary School District Lompoc Unified School District Los Olivos School District Montecito Union School District Orcutt Union School District Santa Barbara Unified School District Santa Maria-Bonita School District Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District Solvang School District Vista del Mar Union School District
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Findings & Recommendations
6 findings
F1:
The City of Santa Barbara is not enforcing the voter-approved law prohibiting the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in the community by allowing continued use by City staff, contractors, and residents in violation of Section 9.16.060 of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council fully and effectively enforce Section 9.16.060 of the City Code. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
F2:
The City of Santa Barbara staff and its contractors are using gasoline- powered leaf-blowers in municipal operations in direct violation of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Santa Barbara enforce compliance with section 9.16.060 of the City Code through agreements with its contractors, including prohibiting the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in City- contracted operations. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R2a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct City staff to comply with Section 9.16.060 of the City Code by ceasing its own use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in City operations. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
F3:
The City of Santa Barbara’s current enforcement model for its gasoline- powered leaf blower ban is not effective and does not result in enforcement of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council develop a proactive enforcement model that ensures immediate response to violations of the City Code, holding non-compliant operators accountable. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R3b:
The Grand Jury recommends that Santa Barbara City Council create a short-term patrol-based enforcement task force to address violations of the gasoline-powered leaf blower ban and establish a visible enforcement presence. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
F4:
The Parks and Recreation Department has not made its leaf blower usage guidelines readily accessible, limiting community awareness and resulting in continued noise disturbances, air pollution, and repeated quality of life impacts on residents throughout the community.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct the Parks and Recreation Department to make these guidelines readily accessible to the public. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
F5:
The Parks and Recreation Department has not adopted a leaf blower certification program, resulting in no effective method to identify equipment compliance or non-compliance, in violation of Section 9.16.050.E of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct the Parks and Recreation Department to adopt a leaf blower certification program, in compliance with the City Code. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
F6:
The Finance Department is not providing a copy of Chapter 9.16 of the municipal code and the established Parks and Recreation leaf blower guidelines to each person obtaining a business license (tax certificate) or gardening or landscaping, in violation of Section 9.16.050.F of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct the Finance Department to provide a copy of Chapter 9.16 of the municipal code and leaf blower guidelines to each person obtaining a business license (tax certificate) for gardening or landscaping, in compliance with the City Code. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
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Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
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.
F2:
Current staffing at Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (SBCOEM) is not sufficient to meet all program responsibilities.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors increase SBCOEM staffing to 12 full-time employees. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
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.
Related Recommendations (3)
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. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
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. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
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. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
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.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4a:
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.
R4b:
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.
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
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. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
Bullying in County schools will be reduced by implementing additional safety measures.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1a:
The Grand Jury recommends that school boards increase staff presence in areas where students congregate before, during breaks, and after school. To be implemented by December 31, 2026
R1b:
The Grand Jury recommends that school boards have sufficient cameras in order to monitor where students congregate before, during, and after school. To be implemented by June 30, 2027.
R1c:
The Grand Jury recommends that school boards add more counselors to achieve a ratio no greater than 250:1. To be implemented by June 30, 2027.
F2:
Administrators do not consistently inform school counselors when students under their guidance engage in bullying.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends that school boards inform school counselors whenever any students under their guidance engage in bullying. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
F3:
Parent participation in outreach programs for bullying has been poor.
Related Recommendations (3)
R3a:
The Grand Jury recommends that school boards direct school administrators to schedule parent outreach programs regarding bullying on evenings, weekends, online and with archived recordings to accommodate working parents. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R3b:
The Grand Jury recommends that school boards implement non-monetary incentives to encourage parents to attend outreach programs. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R3c:
The Grand Jury recommends that school boards strongly encourage parents of students who have engaged in repeated acts of bullying to attend outreach programs. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
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Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
It is too difficult to find SB Connect on the City of Santa Barbara (City) website to create and complete a request.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City add a direct link to the “Create a Request” page on SB Connect on the City website home page. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R1b:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City reduce the number of required fields in SB Connect service request submissions. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R1c:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City provide a clearly visible phone number for residents who need assistance submitting a request, obtaining status, or resolving problems that cannot be handled through SB Connect alone. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
F2:
Although the City promised to provide accurate, real-time tracking of service requests from submission through closure, the City has not done so.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City provide accurate status from submission through closure of all service requests, with an update by City staff within two business days of being opened. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R2b:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City not close service requests before they are actually resolved. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
F3:
Although SB Connect has a Spanish language version, the City website does not consistently send Spanish-speaking residents to SB Connect for service requests.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City add links to SB Connect (Spanish version) from the Spanish-language Contacto page and from Spanish-language Reporte/Queja navigation paths so that Spanish-language navigation matches English- language navigation. To be implemented by September 30, 2026.
F4:
There is no single, clearly accountable person within City staff with authority to drive workflow and policy changes for SB Connect across departments.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City Council assign a single person who is responsible for SB Connect and empowered to drive process and protocol changes across departments for a better and consistent user experience. To be implemented by September 30, 2026.
F5:
There is no recurring, public process for the community to help understand and prioritize planned SB Connect improvements.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City host a public meeting, at least annually, at which the City presents a roadmap of planned updates and receives public input. These meetings are to continue for at least two years. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
R5b:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City send a follow-up user experience survey to each resident that submits a service request. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
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Findings & Recommendations
6 findings
F1:
The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) provides County school districts training in identifying pathways to targeted violence, although attendance by employees of the various Santa Barbara County school districts in the SBCEO’s School Safety Symposium is limited.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County Education Office make its School Safety Symposium available online for ease of accessibility for school staffs county-wide.
R1b:
The Grand Jury recommends that all Santa Barbara County school districts require administrative leaders to attend the School Safety Symposium in person at least once every two years.
R1c:
The Grand Jury recommends that all Santa Barbara County school districts encourage teachers and staff to attend the School Safety Symposium in- person, and if not in-person, access the online seminar annually.
F2:
Santa Barbara County school districts are compliant in creating Comprehensive School Safety Plans for their schools, but some staff require more information and training on safety protocols.
Related Recommendations (3)
R2a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County school districts train and drill all fulltime campus personnel and students for campus safety at least once per semester.
R2b:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County school districts provide written and verbal instruction to all temporary personnel, including substitute teachers, prior to their entering a new classroom location.
R2c:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara County school districts provide quick reference situational cards and/or information posters conveying simple instructions for emergency response procedures in every classroom and in public rooms.
F3:
While many Santa Barbara County school districts have a watch, listen, and report culture for enhancement of threat detection in their schools, not all schools have anonymous pathways for reporting threats or potential threats online or on campus.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3a:
The Grand Jury recommends that all Santa Barbara County school districts train school personnel on how to gain trust, understand healthy boundaries, and engage in strategic partnerships with community service groups to support student needs.
R3b:
The Grand Jury recommends that all Santa Barbara County school districts provide an anonymous reporting mechanism on school-provided devices, in addition to a drop box available on campus.
F4:
School Resource Officers or Deputies are valuable in preventing or addressing potentially dangerous situations on campus, but many schools do not employ them.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends that all Santa Barbara County school districts have School Resource Officers (SRO) or Deputies (SRD).
F5:
Some schools in Santa Barbara County school districts lack adequate controls for visitor access.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5a:
The Grand Jury recommends that Santa Barbara County school districts improve visitor access control during school hours by requiring valid government-issued photo identification verified by school personnel, utilizing a system that checks for restraining orders or other legal restrictions.
R5b:
The Grand Jury recommends that Santa Barbara County school districts require all schools to issue visitors a badge and require its visibility on the visitor while on campus during school hours.
F6:
Not all schools in Santa Barbara County have adequate safety infrastructure, including fences, cameras, classrooms that lock from the inside, restricted access points, and instantaneous communication devices.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
The Grand Jury recommends that all Santa Barbara County school districts have each school conduct an annual security review with respect to video security cameras at key points across school grounds, two-way communications on campus, and innovations, such as artificial intelligence-aided technologies or drones, and make improvements based on those reviews. REQUIREMENTS FOR RESPONSES Commented [ME1]: Change: REQUIREMENTS FOR RESPONSES To: REQUEST FOR RESPONSE Pursuant to California Penal Code §933 and §933.05, the Grand Jury requests each entity or individual named below to respond to the findings and recommendations within the specified statutory time limit. Responses to Findings shall be either:
• Agree
• Disagree with an explanation
• Disagree partially with an explanation Responses to Recommendations shall be one of the following:
• Has been implemented, with a summary of the implementation actions taken
• Will be implemented, with an implementation schedule
• Requires further analysis, with an analysis completion date of fewer than 6 months after the issuance of the report
• It will not be implemented with an explanation of why Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools: 60 days
Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
The Memo of Understanding (MOU) between Santa Barbara County and the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association contains provisions that compound the overtime issues within the Sheriff’s Office.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors negotiate with the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association to revise the Memorandum of Understanding to disallow the use of leave balances as time worked.
R1b:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Sheriff set a maximum number of overtime hours per employee per pay period unless approved by a Lieutenant or higher level of management. To be completed by October 31, 2026.
F2:
Staff and managerial training are provided to the Sheriff’s Office by the County but, historically, management have not been accountable for evaluating and implementing that training.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2a:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Sheriff implement an improved Employee Performance Review system that holds staff and management accountable to manage overtime. To be completed by October 31, 2026.
R2b:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Sheriff implement a quarterly review of management practices including timecard approvals and overtime shift approvals. To be completed by October 31, 2026.
F3:
The current payroll system is ineffective for the Sheriff’s needs today. It does not allow the Sheriffs’ Office to effectively track, analyze, or report regular hours and overtime for a dynamic and mobile workforce.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Grand Jury recommends that the County and the Sheriff work together to accelerate the build-out and installation of Workday (the new countywide payroll and human resources management system) for the Sheriff. To be completed by January 1, 2027.
F4:
Increased staffing costs are exacerbated by the administration of two jail facilities.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff work together to create a decommissioning plan for the Main South County Jail with the goal of closing that facility as quickly as possible. To be completed by December 31, 2026.