This Board letter, co-authored by Supervisor Anderson and Chair Vargas, recommends the adoption of a resolution supporting the addition of a resident of San Diego County’s unincorporated area as an advisory member to the SANDAG Board of Directors. The proposed advisory Board member would serve as a dedicated representative for unincorporated communities and the County’s half-a-million unincorporated area residents. It also directs County staff to assist the community planning groups in selecting the unincorporated area advisory SANDAG Board member.

This Board letter directs County staff to invest in a Live Well on Wheels (LiveWoW) vehicle dedicated to homeless outreach services. This forty-foot bus, which deploys a wide array of County health and community services, will be maintained as part of the County’s existing fleet of mobile service delivery vehicles that serve thousands of residents. This action also directs staff to consult with regional partners and people with lived experiences when developing the vehicle design and service menu.

VOTES: 4-0 (PASS)
This Board letter authorizes County staff to work with the City, Sweetwater Authority, and other regional agencies and community partners to seek funding or identify County resources necessary to support enhanced recreational opportunities and increased access to San Diego reservoirs.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
This Board letter directs County staff to accept and distribute to San Ysidro Health funding that was included in the State budget to pay for a mobile medical clinic. The mobile clinic will increase access to healthcare for back country residents.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
This Board letter directs County staff to work with the Grossmont Healthcare District to initiate a rural health pilot program partnering a firefighter/paramedic with a registered public health nurse to conduct post-discharge follow-up home visits for rural patients. The goal of this program is to reduce hospital readmissions and promote equal access to health services throughout the rural areas of East County, disproportionately impacted by health vulnerabilities.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
To increase homeless shelter capacity in East County, this Board letter directs County staff to conduct a feasibility analysis to determine the potential to site a facility, or convert an existing hotel into a County-owned facility that accepts Regional Housing Assistance Program (RHAP) vouchers from customers. It also directs County staff to issue a Request for Information to gauge the interest of developers and potential hotel/program operators. 

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
The Board recognizes the anticipated influx in the number of asylum seekers entering the U.S. once the federal government lifts the current Title 42 restrictions currently limiting border crossings. This Board letter directs County staff to identify short-term actions we can take to prevent the asylum seekers released on the street by federal authorities from exacerbating the regional homeless crisis. Staff is also directed to develop a Comprehensive Preparedness Plan, work with partner organizations to seek federal resources, and urge Congress to prioritize comprehensive immigration reform during the current legislative session.    

VOTE: 5-0 (PASS)
This board letter proposes an "Opioid Settlement Framework" that presents evidence-based strategies to spend the County's expected opioid settlement funds, advancing solutions in the sectors of healthcare integration, harm reduction, and social supports and services. 

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
This board letter recommends a County purchase of sleeping cabins or sprung shelters to be used by partner organizations to shelter the region's homeless population. It also encourages private companies to bring their own innovative solutions forward and work with the County in a public/private partnership to address homelessness.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
The lack of middle-class housing affordability in San Diego County has pushed some of our local workforce to live in areas distant from their jobs. This board letter recommends several actions to help increase the production of middle-class housing in our region through the creation of a pilot workforce housing program.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
San Diego County has the largest concentration of military personnel in the world, with East County being home to the largest number of military veterans in the region. This board letter seeks to bring a veterans resource center to East County and evaluate current gaps in services and expand services at existing County Military and Veterans Resource Centers (MVRCs). In addition, this board letter seeks to investigate ways to increase collaboration and streamline the efforts of government agencies and other private and public organizations that exist to serve veterans.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
The Board unanimously passed the Chief Administrative Officer's plan to establish an "Ag Pass" program at the recommendation of Supervisor Anderson and Supervisor Desmond. Agricultural passes ("Ag Pass") allow vetted ranchers and farmers limited access to their property, when deemed safe, during a wildfire or other emergencies to care for their livestock or crops. Physical Ag Pass cards will be granted to eligible owners so they may be easily identified by emergency personnel during such emergencies. Upon passing this board letter, the Board voted to establish an Ag Pass program for the unincorporated area of San Diego County, and full implementation of the program is planned for the Fiscal Year 2023-24.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
This board letter was introduced to acknowledge the generosity of the Mollenkopf Family’s donation to the Boys & Girls Club - 4S Ranch Branch, to provide scholarship programs for children throughout the County, and to obtain Board approval to officially rename this facility the Boys & Girls Club - Mollenkopf Family Branch.

VOTES: 4-0 (PASS)
In this board letter, Supervisor Anderson requests sixteen measures be included within the County's Cannabis Permitting Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Socially Equitable Cannabis Program that will enhance the safety of our residents, improve the character and vibrancy of our communities, and develop a youth cannabis prevention curriculum.

VOTES: 4-0 (PASS)
Supervisor Anderson authored this board letter directing County staff to inform San Diego residents how to obtain discounted broadband internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Twenty internet providers agreed to participate in the ACP which expands high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved residents by providing internet service subsidies to low-income customers and those living on tribal lands. This action builds on previous County action to close the digital divide, including County funding to support and partner with SANDAG and 211 San Diego on the "Get Connected" campaign and funding to assist SANDAG and Caltrans provide fiber to rural communities through their microtrenching initiative.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
With inflation at a 40-year high, the budgets of housing and service providers for the 360,000+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in California, who require special services and care at great expense, have been strained. This board letters details four recommmendations to remove funding barriers to provide more community housing options to more people with I/DD that align with the County's efforts to advance equity and end homelessness.

VOTES: 4-0 (PASS)
Senior centers are uniquley positioned to integrate County of San Diego services with their existing operations, creating a one-stop shop for older adults. The passing of this board letter established a pilot programs with the City of Escondido's Park Avenue Community Center (PACC) and the Jewish Family Service's College Avenue Center at Temple Emanu-El to utilize existing County resources and provide in-person services.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
All communities are entitled to a transparent and accountable government. Community members deserve easy access to accurate information and to provide their input to the County. This board letter articulates the recommendations of the Board's Transparency Committee, recommending that the County conduct an assessment of community engagement and identify opportunities for improved collaboration with the public.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
A small business owner contacted Supervisor Anderson’s office when he realized that San Diego City and San Diego County amusement device ordinances differed in their restrictions, limiting the ability of small businesses in unincorporated County areas to operate in the same manner as small businesses in the City. To correct this, Supervisor Anderson and Vice Chair Vargas introduced a board letter that advocated for repealing the outdated County regulatory code provisions relating to amusement devices, like arcade games. This repeal will now allow all small businesses to expand their customer base and workforce, reduce an unnecessary regulatory burden, and grant the same business opportunities to unincorporated areas that are available to those in incorporated areas.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
The Board directed the Chief Administrative Officer to draft a letter to the Governor and San Diego County's State legislative delegation requesting a temporary one-year suspension of the State of California's gas tax and requesting to back fill the funds using the State's budget surplus.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
As the cost of housing continues to soar, many older Californians living on low and fixed incomes are being forced to choose between paying rent, eating, or buying medications. To combat this, Supervisors Anderson & Lawson-Remer proposed creating a pilot shallow rent subsidy program for older adults who are rent-burdened and at risk of experiencing homelessness.

VOTE: 5-0 (PASS)
Regional law enforcement agencies, including the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the City of San Diego Police Department, are expected to face a shortage of sworn officers necessary to protect life and property in the next few years. Vaccine mandates at the City of San Diego could result in up to 160 officers being fired this year. This board letter directs the County to prepare for and appropriately address anticipated shortages in public safety personnel to keep our communities safe.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
On January 12, 2021, the Board of Supervisors established an advisory committee to develop recommendations to enhance transparency, accessibility, and open government within the County of San Diego's operations, public engagement processes, and website offerings. This board letter directs the Chief Administrative Officer to continue supporting the Transparency Committee by investigating actions that can be taken to create greater transparency and ease of access to County information

VOTES: 4-0 (PASS)
This board letter directed the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation to work with various agencies and stakeholders to determine the feasibility and costs associated with providing additional support to increase access to reservoirs for recreational activities.

VOTE: 4-0 (PASS)
Although the County role regarding the placement of conditionally released Sexually Violent Predators (SVPs) is limited, this item directs County departments to proactively review and verify that the Department of State Hospitals and its Conditional Release Program contractor comply with all applicable state and local laws, regulations and other legal requirements when searching for and securing housing for SVPs. This item also directs the Chief Administrative Officer to develop, implement and report back on a communications strategy to maximize transparency, notification and public input on the proposed placement of SVPs. 

Votes: 5-0 (PASS)
Homelessness has been an ongoing crisis for East County communities. This item directs the Office of Homeless Solutions to identifying appropriate locations and concepts for emergency shelters, safe parking, and services to address individuals’ and the communities’ needs. It also stipulates flexible funding to support outreach workers in their efforts and includes direction for staff to implement a plan that improves data management and coordination of homeless referrals and needs.  

VOTES: RECOMMENDATIONS #1 & #2: 5-0 (PASS), RECOMMENDATION #3: 4-1 (PASS)

This item directs the County’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to work with Refugee Resettlement Agencies and other key stakeholders to coordinate a response plan for the anticipated influx of Afghanistan refugees into the County and seeks to obtain frozen Afghanistan government assets to cover State and County costs related to resettlement activities. 

VOTES: 3-0 (PASS)
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a board letter put forth by Supervisor Joel Anderson and Vice Chair Nora Vargas. This is the first step which will begin the process of establishing “MEHKOs”, or microenterprise home kitchen operations, in San Diego County. County staff will return to the Board of Supervisors in 120 days with a recommended ordinance for adoption. During this 120 day period, County staff will be soliciting public input to help shape the ordinance.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

Approval of this item directs County staff to continue the efforts to transfer funding and administrative oversight responsibilities for County Service Area No. 69 (CSA 69) to the City of Santee and the Lakeside Fire Protection District. The resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors authorizes staff to request that the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) begin the process of dissolving CSA 69 and reorganizing its governing structure.  

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS, RECOMMENDATION 1 )

Currently, the sheriff, the District Attorney, and the County Counsel are somewhat constrained in use of all methods for closing down illegal marijuana dispensaries. This board letter will allow the sheriff to seize property used in these illegal pot shops through a “receivership” process overseen by the County Counsel.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
The COVID-19 pandemic has both highlighted and exacerbated the digital divide between served and underserved communities and exposed the service deficiencies in much of the rural back country. This inequitable distribution of broadband access is a significant and growing social and economic issue. This board letter directs County staff to commit $1.4 million to allow for the installation of new fiber conduits through a microtrenching project to enhance broadband service along the Stat Route 67 corridor. An additional 18 miles of fiber conduit will be installed during the rehabilitation of State Route 67 to increase broadband connectivity for rural communities such as Ramona and Lakeside and tribal nations, including Barona, Mesa Grande and Santa Ysabel.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

The State of California put additional restrictions on the federal government's emergency rental assistance funds distributed to the County of San Diego and other counties throughout the State. This board letter asks for more flexibility in disbursing the rental assistance money and giving landlords 100% of what they were owed instead of 80% of back-rent and 25% of prospective rent. This letter also asks the Board to carve out a portion of American Rescue Package funds in creation of a shallow rent subsidy program for those who are living in hotels or couch surfing, who don’t qualify for rental assistance. 

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

The housing of sex offenders in San Diego County continues to be a major concern for the region’s families, community leaders and the elected officials representing them. The current processes used by various state and local entities involved in the notification and placement of sex offenders is complex and often unclear to the public. This board letter directs County staff to conduct a review of the current process and procedures used to notify the public about the placement and residency of Sexually Violent Predators and Registered Sex Offenders and to provide any suggestions to improve the process.    

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

As SANDAG’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment and many other reports indicate, there is a housing shortage in San Diego County, particularly for affordable housing units. In 2019, the Board of Supervisors created an Innovative Housing Trust Fund to incentive developers to build units at an affordable housing rate. This board letter is an initiative to expand this Innovative Housing Trust Fund by 25 million dollars that was unanimously referred to the County’s budget for fiscal year 2021/2022. 

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

The County took several actions to provide relief to small businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the deferral of various fees to County departments. In addition, the Board of Supervisors directed County departments to postpone planned fee increases during the pandemic, and to cover budget shortfalls using reserves and other funding sources. This board letter directs County staff to consider using federal stimulus funds - instead of imposing fee increases on the business community - to cover Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget shortfalls for several County departments. It also directs staff to extend the option for businesses to defer until September 30, 2021, the payment of fees for the deferral programs that expired on March 31, 2021.    

WITHDRAWN, STATE MANDATE RESCINDED PRIOR TO BOARD MEETING
San Diego is home to over 150 independent craft breweries and serves as the birthplace for a number of the industry’s most respected brands. Craft beer manufacturers contribute over $1.2 billion annually to the local economy and are responsible for nearly $5 million in philanthropic donations. This board letter directed County staff to advocate on behalf of the craft beer industry to eliminate a state requirement that beer manufacturers offer patrons sit-down dining as a condition of serving customers on-site during the COVID-19 pandemic.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

More than half of the County’s unincorporated communities are located within high or very high fire severity zones. Fire safety, including the ability to evacuate, is of utmost importance to the residents living in rural areas. This board letter directs County staff to identify public roads where an additional ten feet of vegetation clearance should occur and to develop an implementation plan for that vegetation clearing.  

VOTES: 5-0

On February 10, 2021, the San Diego Board of Supervisors approved the acquisition of approximately 98 acres from the Helix Water District. This board letter was brought to the County Board of Supervisors on March 3, 2021. It authorized additional project costs for the El Monte River Valley Property toward clearing debris and vegetation, and making improvements to a little league sports complex.

VOTES: 2-3 (FAIL)

In 2020, the Board of Supervisors considered adopting a position on Senate Bill (SB) 1023 (Bates), legislation that would have required most proceedings for the civil commitment of a sexually violent predator (SVP) to be conducted in open court. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shift in bill prioritization by the State Legislature action on this legislation was suspended last year. The author of this bill introduced similar legislation, SB 248, that would also require most proceedings for the civil commitment of an SVP to be conducted in open court. In addition, SB 248 would close a loophole by ensuring SVPs return to a state hospital to continue serving their original sentence after prison terms for new crimes have been completed. This board letter requests the Board to write a letter in support of this Senate Bill. 

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

Beginning in 2013, the region’s utility provider, San Diego Gas & Electric, began using Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) during adverse weather events. To lessen the impacts of PSPS events, and maintain safety, it is critical for the County to collaborate with SDG&E and other partners to develop protocols and resources to address and minimize impacts caused by the power shutoffs. This board letter directs County staff to identify gaps in PSPS mitigations and opportunities to further reduce the impact on the region. It also directs staff to consult with stakeholders and state representatives to pursue funding from public and private sources to address the identified gaps.  

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

Although there are over 118,735 off-highway motor vehicles registered in San Diego County, the County has never submitted a grant application to the State’s Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division seeking funding to investigate the feasibility of siting an OHV park in San Diego County. This board letter directs staff to submit an application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s 2021 Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. If awarded funds, the County will use them for planning activities to identify and establish an off-highway motor vehicle park in the County of San Diego.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated many businesses throughout the San Diego region. In 2020, the County Board of Supervisors approved $47.5 million to launch the Small Business Stimulus Grant Program. The County was able to fund 7,668 out of the 8,834 applications received. This board letter committed a minimum of an additional $30 million to fund a third round of the Small Business Stimulus Grant Program to assist businesses and established a temporary COVID-19 Paid Family Sick Leave Policy for County employees. 

VOTES: 2-3 (FAIL)

Although law enforcement personnel often encounter a significant number of individuals while responding to calls, they were included in a lower tier than other emergency personnel and those who respond to emergency incidents in the COVID-19 vaccination efforts. This board letter asks the Board of Supervisors to prioritize the vaccination of law enforcement personnel by supporting their immediate vaccination eligibility through the inclusion of law enforcement in Tier 1A of the County’s vaccination plan.

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
Although the County has undertaken reforms in the past to facilitate greater transparency, more can be done to reflect on current policies and recommend changes that allow for greater transparency, including access to public records, documents and meetings in recognition that public participation and access to information is foundational to our democracy. This board letter creates a Board of Supervisors committee to work with County staff, the public, key stakeholder groups and members of the media to identify recommended changes to enhance transparency, accessibility and open government.