County 2-5

The Board of Supervisors embarked on a journey deep into the county’s budget spreadsheets, a ride they’ll be on for the next three weeks, certainly, and probably for the next couple of years. Staff outlined severe shortages in several departments. Normally reserved for June, preliminary budget discussions took up almost the entire meeting on 2/3, as the county deals with a $26 million decline in discretionary revenue compared to last year.

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Bill Palladini, who has served as president of the Montecito Association for two years, is stepping down. In his stead will be new president Peter Van Duinwyk. Palladini led the influential community organization through the controversial Miramar project. The association spent many months and meetings reviewing the proposal before conferring its stamp of approval, which was followed by county approval last year.

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At the request of 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf, the county will once again take up the General Plan Housing Element Focused Rezone Program. Wolf, one of three supes to vote for sending a letter to the state explaining the county’s belief that its mandated housing requirements had been met by potential future units in Isla Vista so it was unnecessary to add more by rezoning in Orcutt, said she later realized the language of the motion “could have unintended consequences and implications.” The board will re-hear the issue on 2/24.