APCD approves up to $60,000 for Buellton childrens clean-air projects, backs Lompoc initiatives
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Summary
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District board approved using up to $60,000 from a settlement share to fund two Buellton projects (HVAC/filter maintenance at Oak Valley Elementary and an interactive exhibit at the Santa Ynez Valley Childrens Museum) and received updates on multiple Lompoc clean-air projects funded under the districts Clean Air Fund.
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District on Jan. 15 authorized the Air Pollution Control Officer to implement two Buellton projects using Clean Air Fund settlement money, approving up to $60,000 combined for Oak Valley Elementary maintenance and an interactive childrens exhibit.
The board voted unanimously to receive the Clean Air Fund update and to allow the air pollution control officer to enter into memoranda of agreement for the Buellton projects, subject to district counsel, risk management and auditor-controller review.
Planning Division Supervisor Jim Fredericksen told the board the Clean Air Fund was established in 2019 to support community projects that fall outside traditional grant programs. "Since that time, your board has approved the use of clean air funds for eight projects," Fredericksen said. He reviewed prior investments including vouchers for electric landscape equipment and an indoor air purifier pilot distributed in Guadalupe.
Fredericksen described five projects already approved in Lompoc (improvements at the Lompoc Family YMCA, the citys community and senior center, the Boys & Girls Club, two elementary schools and outreach), and outlined two proposed Buellton projects drawn from the districts share of a $620,000 settlement with Central Coast Agriculture. According to Fredericksen, the districts share was $260,000 and 25% of that share is being proposed for Buellton projects.
Under the Buellton proposal, the district would provide up to $20,000 to maintain 38 HVAC systems for one year and fund semiannual replacement of about 70 high-efficiency air filters at Oak Valley Elementary, which serves roughly 400 students and additional after-school populations. The district is proposing up to $40,000 for the Santa Ynez Valley Childrens Museum to design and build a hands-on outdoor air-quality exhibit aimed at young children.
Board members asked staff for the Clean Air Fund balance and for assurance about fund availability; Fredericksen said the fund balance is "in the hundreds of thousands" and that unutilized CalEVIP funds will be returned this fiscal year for reuse.
The motion to approve the expenditures passed unanimously on roll call. The board instructed staff to proceed with agreements and return materials for any required legal and fiscal review.
The presentation also noted timelines and conditions: some Lompoc agreements have already been executed (for HVAC work and furniture replacement in schools) and the Buellton museum project is intended to support a museum scheduled to open in 2026. The memorandum-of-agreement language will include routine administrative reviews by counsel, risk management and the auditor-controller before signatures.
The boards approval comes with the caveat that if one project is not implemented, funds may be redistributed to the other approved project, and that all agreements are subject to the districts standard review processes.
What happens next: staff will prepare the memoranda of agreement and supporting materials for the district council and fiscal review, then return final agreements for execution.
