Edhat StaffSource: County of Santa Barbara
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Policy Items Scheduled for October 3, 2017
1) HEARING – Consider recommendations regarding a Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance, as follows:
(EST. TIME: 2 HR, 30 MIN.)
The proposed ordinances, if adopted by the Board, will establish new zoning regulations that will permit the use of Short Term Rentals (STRs) in (1) certain Mixed-Use zone districts and (2) certain Commercial zone districts where other transient lodging is permitted. The proposed ordinance also will establish a new, STR-Coastal Historic Overlay zone in which STRs would be permitted. The proposed ordinances will prohibit STRs in all other Residential (outside of the STR-Coastal Historic Overlay), Agricultural, Resource Protection, Industrial, and certain Special Purpose zone districts. However, the proposed ordinances will permit Homestays in (1) Residential zone districts and (2) Agricultural I (AG-I) zone districts. The proposed ordinances will amend the LUDC, Article II, and MLUDC. The complete text of the ordinance amendments is set forth in Attachment 2 (LUDC), Attachment 4 (MLUDC), Attachment 6 (Article II), Attachment 8 (Article II – STR-Coastal Historic Overlay), and summarized in the agenda materials linked above.
Actions for Consideration: Refer to Attachment “Set Hearing Board Letter 9-19-2017” found with the agenda linked above.
2) HEARING – Consider recommendations regarding Community Choice Energy (CCE) Feasibility Study Results, as follows:
(EST. TIME: 2 HR, 30 MIN.)
Staff, in collaboration with 10 jurisdictions across the Tri-County Region, has been evaluating the feasibility of a regional community choice energy (CCE) program for Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. The County of Santa Barbara (“County”) commissioned a feasibility study (refer to Attachment A) in 2016 to determine whether CCE is a good fit for Santa Barbara County and the Tri-County Region. The feasibility study and subsequent peer review suggest that a newly created regional CCE program spanning Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties is likely not a viable venture in terms of the CCE program’s ability to provide competitive rates and remain a solvent organization. The feasibility study similarly found that a stand-alone CCE program for the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County also would not produce competitive rates or a long-term financially viable organization.
The results of the peer review, however, indicate that it may be possible for a local or regional CCE program operating within Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) territory, including northern Santa Barbara County, to offer competitive rates while covering its costs. However, a jurisdiction that offers CCE service to one residential customer must offer CCE service to all residential customers. This means that the County cannot operate a CCE program solely within PG&E territory in the northern unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County. The County must also offer CCE service in the southern unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County served by Southern California Edison (SCE), which has lower electricity generation rates than PG&E. The feasibility study and peer review indicate that a new regional CCE program, under the assumptions used in the feasibility study and peer review, is not likely to be able to offer competitive rates in SCE territory.
Staff is requesting that the Board consider the following options and provide direction on how to proceed with CCE:
- Option 1. Join two existing CCE programs;
- Option 2. Form a new CCE program;
- Option 3. Not implement a CCE program at this time and continue to explore additional CCE related options for later consideration; or
- Option 4. Not implement a CCE program at this time and discontinue the County’s evaluation of CCE.
