Board adopts sea‑level, fire‑hazard and fee changes; receives recruitment and racial‑equity reports

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on May 20 unanimously approved a set of policy changes and received two staff reports addressing county workforce and public‑safety racial equity.

The board voted to: adopt local fire‑hazard maps prepared by the state fire marshal; approve more than 5,100 county service rates and fees for fiscal year 2025–26; repeal the county ordinance that certified backflow prevention testers; and adopt county amendments to the Local Coastal Program (LCP) to require sea‑level rise and coastal hazard analysis for new development in mapped shoreline areas. The board also received and filed a county recruitment and retention report required by state law and a biennial update from the Public Safety Racial Equity Advisory Group.

Why it matters: the fire‑hazard maps and LCP amendments change which parcels are subject to state‑mandated defensible‑space, disclosure inspections and coastal hazard analysis. The rates and fees action updates county cost‑recovery schedules for hundreds of programs. The cross‑connection ordinance repeal follows a state rule change that shifts certification responsibilities to water purveyors. The staff reports outline staffing pressures in county agencies and racial‑equity data about public safety that may affect future policy and budgets.

Fire maps adopted; effective July 1

The board adopted Ventura County Fire Protection District Ordinance No. 33, which accepts the State Fire Marshal''s updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zone maps. Aaron Engstrom, the county planner who led the coastal items, told the board, "If adopted today, then the maps will be effective 07/01/2025." The maps expand mapped hazard areas and will subject additional parcels to state disclosure and defensible‑space rules. The board''s action was taken by motion (moved by Supervisor Garrell; second Supervisor Parvin) and passed unanimously.

What it means: properties newly mapped into "very high" or "high" hazard areas become subject to state requirements such as a 100‑foot defensible space in very high zones and real‑estate disclosure inspections under state law when a property is sold. County staff told the board the changes cover tens of thousands of parcels countywide and will increase demand for public outreach and inspections.

Fees and rates: board approves broad schedule of increases

The board approved a consolidated resolution updating more than 5,100 county, Watershed Protection District and Fire Protection District fees for fiscal year 2025–26. Robert Bravo of the County Executive Office said about 54% of fees in the package increase, 88% remain unchanged and 9% decrease; most increases are under 5%. The board''s motion to adopt the fees (moved by Supervisor Lopez; second Supervisor Long) passed unanimously.

Cross‑connection (backflow) ordinance repealed

Because the state revised its cross‑connection regulations and established a new Cross‑Connection Control Policy Handbook, the county introduced and then voted to repeal the county ordinance that had allowed the Environmental Health Division to certify backflow testers. Environmental Health manager Charles Genkel and program lead Ron Ventura told supervisors the state requirement now calls for ANSI‑accredited testing programs that the county does not operate. The board approved the repeal (moved by Supervisor Long; second Supervisor LaVier) and the ordinance was repealed by unanimous vote. County staff said they will work with local water purveyors and water districts to transfer records and responsibilities.

Local Coastal Program: board adopts sea‑level rise amendments and forwards to Coastal Commission

The largest policy action was adoption of county‑initiated LCP amendments addressing sea‑level rise, coastal hazards and shoreline protection. The amendments add goal and policy language to the coastal area plan and change the Coastal Zoning Ordinance to require a coastal hazard report when redevelopment reaches a substantial‑improvement threshold (50% or higher under the ordinance) in mapped shoreline areas. For many shoreline uses the county will apply the state''s "intermediate high" sea‑level scenario (roughly 6.6 feet by 2130 under current guidance) to design elevations and to FEMA requirements—whichever is higher.

Planner Aaron Engstrom summarized the approach and noted the amendments "phase in" elevation and adaptation requirements as redevelopment occurs rather than mandating immediate statewide shoreline armoring removal. The board adopted the CAP amendments and the zoning ordinance changes and authorized transmittal to the California Coastal Commission for certification (motion by Supervisor Lopez; second Supervisor LaVier). The vote was unanimous.

Staff reports: recruitment, retention and racial equity

The board received and filed a countywide recruitment and retention report prepared under Assembly Bill 2561. Matt Escobedo, chief of the county''s human resources office, told the board the county processed 42,887 applications in the prior 12 months, has a represented vacancy rate near 10% and is tracking new metrics aimed at shortening time‑to‑hire and improving onboarding. Labor union SEIU Local 721 told the board that some bargaining units still have vacancy rates above 20% in specific departments and that pay and turnover remain a recruitment pressure.

The board also received a presentation from the Public Safety Racial Equity Advisory Group (PSREAG). Co‑chairs Gina Johnson and Cynthia Gonzalez and the group''s ad hoc data lead, Bob Bland, presented analysis of Ventura County Sheriff''s Office activity showing disparities in stops, searches and other enforcement actions for Hispanic and Black residents in the dataset examined; PSREAG recommended further study and ongoing process improvements. The board voted to receive the PSREAG report and to continue periodic briefings (motion to receive by Supervisor Parvin; second Supervisor Lopez). The vote was unanimous.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance No. 33 (Ventura County Fire Protection District): "Adopt LRA fire hazard severity zone maps". Motion: moved by Supervisor Garrell; second Supervisor Parvin. Outcome: adopted unanimously. Effective date announced by staff: 2025‑07‑01. - Resolution updating county service rates and fees (FY 2025–26): Motion: moved by Supervisor Lopez; second Supervisor Long. Outcome: adopted unanimously. - Ordinance repeal (cross‑connection/backflow tester certification): "Repeal Ventura County ordinance 4,487". Motion: moved by Supervisor Long; second Supervisor LaVier. Outcome: adopted unanimously. - LCP amendments (coastal area plan and coastal zoning ordinance): "Adopt county‑initiated sea‑level rise and coastal hazards amendments; forward to California Coastal Commission". Motion: moved by Supervisor Lopez; second Supervisor LaVier. Outcome: adopted unanimously. - Receive and file: County recruitment and retention report (AB 2561). Motion: received and filed; unanimous. - Receive and file: Public Safety Racial Equity Advisory Group report. Motion: received and filed; unanimous.

What supervisors said

Supervisors praised staff outreach and asked for continued interagency coordination. Supervisor LaVier said the LCP work reflects "a neighborhood scale approach" and commended staff for engaging cities, ports and the Naval Base. Several supervisors asked staff to continue five‑year science updates and to use neighborhood plans to handle infrastructure (roads, sewer, rail) and sand‑management issues that elevation alone will not solve.

What’s next

- Fire maps take effect July 1, 2025, and landowners in newly mapped areas should expect state disclosure and defensible‑space requirements when properties are sold. - LCP amendments proceed to the California Coastal Commission for certification; certification is required before the amendments take full legal effect in the coastal zone. - Environmental Health will transfer cross‑connection records and coordination to local water purveyors and—where applicable—county water districts.

Provenance (selected evidence)

- Topicintro (LCP amendments): "Item 38. A public hearing to consider the adoption of county initiated amendments to the local coastal program..." (transcript timecode 21105.506; evidence excerpt: "Item 38. A public hearing to consider the adoption of county initiated amendments to the local coastal program consisting of amendments to chapter 4 of the coastal area plan and articles 2, 4, 5, 8, 11...") - Topfinish (LCP amendments): "Item 38, motion to approve. Moved by Supervisor Lopez, second by Supervisor LaVere. Please vote. That passes unanimously." (transcript timecode 26106.775; evidence excerpt: "Item 38, motion to approve. Moved by Supervisor Lopez, second by Supervisor LaVier. Please vote. That passes unanimously.") - Topicintro (Fire maps): "Okay, we're back... we have item 35... second public hearing regarding adoption of the Ventura County Fire Protection District Ordinance 33..." (timecode 17124.875; evidence excerpt: "Item 35 is our second public hearing regarding adoption of the Ventura County Fire Protection District Ordinance 33 adopting the 20 25 local responsibility area fire hazard severity zone maps as recommended by the California State Fire Marshall.") - Topfinish (Fire maps): "Item number 35, motion to adopt. Moved by supervisor Gurel, second by supervisor Parvin... And that passes unanimously." (timecode 18532.94; evidence excerpt: "Item number 35, motion to adopt. Moved by supervisor Gurel, second by supervisor Parvin... And that passes unanimously.") - Topicintro (Fees & rates): "Item 36. A public hearing regarding adoption of resolutions establishing and amending the service rates and fees..." (timecode 18535.715; evidence excerpt: "Item 36. A public hearing regarding adoption of resolutions establishing and amending the service rates and fees for various services of the county...") - Topfinish (Fees & rates): "Item number 36, motion to adopt. Move by Supervisor Lopez, second by Supervisor Long... That passes unanimously." (timecode 18738.266; evidence excerpt: "Item number 36, motion to adopt. Move by Supervisor Lopez, second by Supervisor Long... That passes unanimously.") - Topicintro (Cross‑connection repeal): "Item 37, first public hearing regarding the introduction of an ordinance repealing ordinance number 4 4 8 7..." (timecode 18748.148; evidence excerpt: "Item 37, first public hearing regarding the introduction of an ordinance repealing ordinance number 4 4 8 7...") - Topfinish (Cross‑connection repeal): "Item 37, motion to approve... That passes unanimously." (timecode 20356.57; evidence excerpt: "Item 37... Motion to approve... Please vote. Thank you. That passes unanimously.") - Topicintro (Recruitment report): "Item 33, receive and file a report of the County of Ventura's recruitment and retention efforts as of 05/10/2025. Presenting is Matt Escobedo." (timecode 7418.53; evidence excerpt: "Item 33, receive and file a report of the County of Ventura's recruitment and retention efforts as of 05/10/2025. And presenting is Matt Escobedo.") - Topfinish (Recruitment report): "Item number 33, motion to receive on file. Move by Supervisor Parvin, second by Supervisor Lopez... That passes unanimously." (timecode 9516.181; evidence excerpt: "Item number 33, motion to receive on file. Move by Supervisor Parvin, second by Supervisor Lopez. Please vote. That passes unanimously.") - Topicintro (PSREAG): "Item 34, receive and file a presentation and periodic report from the Public Safety Racial Equity Advisory Group." (timecode 9524.58; evidence excerpt: "Item 34, receive and file a presentation and periodic report from the Public Safety Racial Equity Advisory Group.") - Topfinish (PSREAG): "Item 34, motion to receive on file. Move by Supervisor Parvin, second by Supervisor Lopez... That passes unanimously." (timecode 10894.595; evidence excerpt: "Item 34, motion to receive on file. Move by Supervisor Parvin, second by Supervisor Lopez. Please vote. And that passes unanimously.")

Speakers (selected, first reference timecodes)

- Aaron Engstrom, Case planner, Resource Management Agency (first referenced 21153.34) - Matt Escobedo, Chief, Human Resources / CEO office (first referenced 7438.765) - Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer / PSREAG co‑chair (first referenced 9541.274) - Cynthia Gonzalez, PSREAG co‑chair (first referenced 9699.404) - Bob Bland, PSREAG ad hoc data lead (first referenced 9998.13) - Robert Bravo, County Executive Office (first referenced 18564.254) - Charles Genkel, Environmental Health Division director (first referenced 18776.57) - Ron Ventura, Cross‑connection program manager (first referenced 18886.012) - David Bridal, coastal scientist/consultant (first referenced 25401.166) - Dave Ward, Planning Director (first referenced 25044.45) - Supervisors Janice Parvin, Olivia LaVier, Matt LaVere, Linda Long, Kathy Long, Steve Garrell and others (board roll call and contributions throughout; roll call excerpt first referenced 1075.915)

Authorities (cited in meeting materials or discussion)

- Assembly Bill 2561 ("Assembly Bill 25 61" as presented to the board), referenced_by:["recruitment_report"] - Government code section 51177 (as discussed for LRA map adoption), referenced_by:["fire_maps"] - Government code section 51179 (appeal language discussed in staff briefing), referenced_by:["fire_maps"] - California Code of Regulations, Title 17 (cross‑connection / backflow rules; staff cited "Title 17"), referenced_by:["cross_connection_repeal"] - California Coastal Act (local coastal program conformity / certification), referenced_by:["lcp_amendments"] - CEQA guidelines section 15265 and Public Resources Code section 21080.9 (as cited in LCP adoption staff report), referenced_by:["lcp_amendments"]

Topics (summary tags)

- coastal_hazards (primary): justification: "Central topic: county adopted LCP amendments to plan for sea‑level rise and coastal hazards"; scores: topic_relevance 1.00, depth_score 0.85, opinionatedness 0.00, controversy 0.60, civic_salience 0.90, impactfulness 0.85, geo_relevance 1.00 - fire_hazard_maps: justification: "Board adopted state fire hazard LRA maps; affects defensible‑space and disclosures"; scores: topic_relevance 0.95, depth_score 0.60, opinionatedness 0.00, controversy 0.40, civic_salience 0.85, impactfulness 0.80, geo_relevance 1.00 - county_budget_fees: justification: "Board adopted countywide rates/fees for FY2025‑26"; scores: topic_relevance 0.80, depth_score 0.50, opinionatedness 0.00, controversy 0.20, civic_salience 0.70, impactfulness 0.60, geo_relevance 1.00

searchable_tags:["sea_level_rise","local_coastal_program","fire_hazard_maps","fees_and_rates","cross_connection","recruitment","workforce","racial_equity","Ventura_County"]

proper_names:[{"name":"Ventura County","type":"agency"},{"name":"Ventura County Board of Supervisors","type":"agency"},{"name":"California Coastal Commission","type":"agency"},{"name":"Ventura County Fire Protection District","type":"agency"},{"name":"First 5 Ventura County","type":"organization"},{"name":"SEIU Local 721","type":"organization"}]

clarifying_details:[{"category":"effective_date_fire_maps","detail":"Maps adopted by board will be effective July 1, 2025","value":"2025-07-01","units":"date","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Aaron Engstrom"},{"category":"sea_level_rise_design_scenario","detail":"County will generally apply the state 'intermediate high' sea level rise scenario for design; staff cited ~6.6 feet by 2130 for many shoreline uses","value":"6.6","units":"feet","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Aaron Engstrom"},{"category":"fee_changes_scope","detail":"More than 5,100 service rates and fees reviewed; ~54% proposed to increase, most by <5%","source_speaker":"Robert Bravo"},{"category":"cross_connection_change","detail":"County to repeal backflow‑tester certification ordinance after state policy requires ANSI‑accredited labs; responsibilities will shift to water purveyors","source_speaker":"Ron Ventura"}],