The effects of the economic recession are the catalyst for at least
two items before the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors today.
The
governing body is slated to discuss how it might provide assistance to
renters who have been displaced by unfortunate circumstances, such as
job loss.
Board members Salud Carbajal and
Doreen Farr, of the 1st and 3rd supervisorial districts respectively,
co-authored the item and requested that the board consider amending the
county ordinance related to landlord and tenant duties at its July 23
meeting.
“While there has been significant
attention to the plight of homeowners facing the loss of their homes
due to foreclosure, it is important that we do not overlook renters who
are also victims of the economic crises confronting our nation and
county,” according to a report submitted by the two supervisors.
The
Rental Housing Roundtable, a coalition of community organizations in
support of renters’ rights, announced a corresponding rally for today
in Santa Barbara to encourage more affordable rental housing.
Also,
in relation to the economic slump, many land permit applicants are
postponing their development projects, according to county planning and
development staff.
With the goal being to
keep projects alive through the recession, county staff has recommended
steps to allow longer time extension.
The new ordinances would allow the Planning and Development
Department director the authority to grant a two-year time extension to
projects claiming an economic hardship.
The elongated time extension would expire by 2012, staff said.
In
another matter, the board is set to respond to two grand jury reports
which focused on the county’s lack of a permanent emergency operations
center and the fiscal future of the county Alcohol Drug and Mental
Health Services Department.
The Board of Supervisors meets at 9
a.m. in the hearing room on the fourth floor of the county
Administration Building at 105 E. Anapamu St.
The public can
address the board in person or by using the remote audio and video
equipment at the Betteravia Government Center at 511 E. Lakeside
Parkway in Santa Maria.
For those who cannot make it to either
location, there is a live stream of the Board of Supervisors’ meetings
and copies of agendas and minutes of the meetings at www.countyofsb.org.
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