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Board approves MOU amendment authorizing enforcement at county solar lot, directs staff to negotiate operational and revenue terms
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Summary
The board voted to adopt Amendment 1 to the parking‑compliance MOU with Santa Barbara County to authorize district enforcement in a county‑owned 'solar lot,' but directed staff to negotiate a separate operational agreement (including revenue‑sharing and cost recovery) with the county before enforcement begins.
The Ivy Community Services District board voted on May 1 to adopt the first amendment to its parking‑compliance memorandum of understanding with Santa Barbara County, adding authority for the district to enforce county permit rules at a county‑owned lot known in the meeting as the 'solar lot.' The vote was a voice vote; the Chair announced the motion carried.
The amendment provides authority but delegates operational details to staff. Director (speaker 5) moved to adopt Amendment 1 and "further direct staff to work with the county on a solar‑lot operational agreement to be executed prior to the commencement of the force," and Director (speaker 2) seconded the motion. The motion included language directing staff to pursue cost recovery and revenue‑sharing arrangements before beginning enforcement at the lot.
Why it matters: county staff currently collect pay‑station revenue; the district would keep citation revenue for enforcement actions it issues, but board members raised concerns about the equity and workload implications of enforcing a county‑owned lot without a clear cost‑recovery agreement. Several directors emphasized that the district’s street‑enforcement program prioritizes health and safety rather than ticket generation and asked that staff not commence enforcement in the solar lot until operational details — signage, revenue flows, frequency of patrols and cost recovery — are resolved.
Details and next steps: the board approved the amendment by voice vote and recorded an instruction that staff must finalize a side operational agreement with the county (including revenue sharing/cost recovery and permitted enforcement frequency) before enforcement starts. The county board of supervisors is scheduled to consider related county action on May 12. Staff will return with a negotiated agreement and any recommended operational changes prior to enforcement at the solar lot.
