The Whipping Post Take on SB County Board of Supervisors

COUNTY COOLS ITS JETS ON CONVENIENT CEQA DODGE FOR FEE HIKES

Your esteemed Board of Supervisors just kicked the can down the road on hiking fees for surveying, conveniently sidestepping environmental review that might reveal actual impacts. How quaint.

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5/31/2026 · Inspired by “HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding an Ordinance Amending the Public Works Department Subdivision Map and Document Review Fee Schedule, Surveyor Division, as follows: (EST. TIME: 15 MIN.) a) Approve the introduction (first reading) of the proposed Ordinance that extends the date of the Pilot Program for the subsidy of Record of Survey fees in the unincorporated area of the County until June 30, 2027; b) Read the title “An Ordinance Adopting a Schedule of Fees for Services Provided by the Department of Public Works, County Surveyor Division in Connection with the Review and Approval of Subdivision and Survey Related Documents and Maps within the Jurisdiction of Santa Barbara County,” and waive full reading of the selected Ordinance; and c) Continue the hearing to the Administrative Agenda of June 23, 2026 to consider recommendations, as follows: i) Consider and approve the adoption (second reading) of the Ordinance for County Surveyor services effective 60 days after adoption; and ii) Find that the above-recommended actions are the establishment, modification, structuring, restricting, or approval of rates, tolls, fees, or other charges by public agencies which the public agency finds are for the purpose of meeting operating expenses and purchasing or leasing supplies, equipment, or materials and are therefore not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under California Public Resources Code section 21080, subdivisions (b)(8)(A) and (B), and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15273, subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2), and are an administrative activity of the County, which will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment and is therefore not a “project” as defined for purposes of the CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines and Section 15378, subdivisions (b)(4) and (b)(5). COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION:” via SB County Board of Supervisors

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SB County Board of Supervisors · The Whipping Post · NO.480 · PANEL 3/6 · SB-446

It seems our overlords at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors have once again proven their unrivaled mastery of bureaucratic sleight of hand. This week, they’ve decided to prolong their 'pilot program' – a grand experiment in making sure developers don't have to fully pay for essential survey fees – while simultaneously punting the final decision on said fees a full year into the future. It’s a classic move: delay, defer, and distract.

The real genius, however, isn't just in extending a 'subsidy' (read: taxpayer handout) for private developers until 2027. Oh no. The true artistry lies in their declaration that these fee schedule amendments, which absolutely impact who builds what and where, are magically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. According to the County, these are just 'administrative activities' that won't result in 'direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.' Because clearly, adjusting the cost of mapping vast swaths of land has no bearing whatsoever on the 'environment.' It’s almost as if they think we fell off the turnip truck yesterday.

This isn't about ensuring fair housing or streamlining development; it's about making sure certain entities pay less, while the rest of us get to foot the bill or deal with the consequences of unchecked growth, all under the guise of fiscal prudence. The Supervisors’ unwavering commitment to declaring anything they don't want scrutinized as 'not a project' under CEQA is truly inspiring. One might even call it a talent.

What the County Board of Supervisors really did here is give a quiet nod to their preferred constituents while ensuring no inconvenient questions about environmental impact could muddy the waters. Expect more 'administrative activities' that reshape our landscape without ever officially touching it, at least in the eyes of our public servants. It's a masterclass in governance by evasion, and frankly, we’re starting to wonder if they just roll dice behind closed doors to decide what is and isn't 'environmental' anymore.

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