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County approves 2024–25 Coastal Resource Mitigation Fund awards, defers coastal acquisition balance
Summary
The Board of Supervisors accepted staff recommendations to partially fund nine coastal projects from the two‑year CRMP cycle, deferring the coastal acquisition balance ($790,377) to the fund deferral program and approving partial awards to restoration, education and accessibility projects.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 4 approved staff recommendations to allocate Coastal Resource Mitigation Fund (CRMP) general‑allocation dollars to nine community projects and to defer the coastal acquisition fund balance into the funds deferral program.
Planning staff told the board the general allocation fund for the two‑year cycle totaled $318,600 and that the coastal acquisition fund totals $790,377, including a funds‑deferral balance. Staff said applicants requested $709,217 in general‑allocation support — more than the available amount — and recommended spreading money across several projects rather than fully funding a handful of large requests.
The board followed staff’s recommendations, approving partial grants for programs that included beach access devices for wheelchair users, wildlife‑care equipment, bicycle‑rack upgrades, coastal education and restoration exhibits and school aquarium expansion. Among the specific recommended amounts noted in staff materials were a $50,000 partial award to UCSB’s Campus Point coastal mesa restoration proposal and a $90,000 partial award to the Cabrillo High School Aquarium Phase 2 expansion; staff recommended partial awards to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network and to exhibit work for Fish Reef while declining funding for additional AI‑monitoring cameras because existing monitoring devices were funded in the prior cycle. Staff also recommended partially funding bicycle‑rack installation in the City of Santa Barbara and limited awards to other applicants so that CRMP funding would stretch across projects.
“Staff’s recommendations are that you receive our presentation today and approve staff’s recommended grant allocations for the 2024 and 2025 award cycle,” Planning presented at the hearing.
Speakers representing applicants described community benefits. A NatureTrack presenter and family members said FreedomTrax mobility devices open beaches and preserves to wheelchair users. A wildlife hospital director outlined intensive care needs for oiled and injured seabirds, and Cabrillo High School students described how aquarium exhibits expand hands‑on science experiences for regional schools.
Supervisors praised the mix of projects and the use of CRMP money to leverage additional funds. After deliberations Supervisor Nelson moved to accept staff recommendations A through E; the motion was seconded, the board voted in the affirmative and the allocations and the recommended deferral were approved.
Next steps: staff will prepare non‑county contracts for awarded grants and carry the coastal acquisition fund balance into the funds‑deferral program to be allocated in future CRMP cycles.
