Western Annexation of Santa Ynez

Source: Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office

The 2016-17 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury received several complaints about the annexation process of the western area of Santa Ynez to the Santa Ynez Community Services District.  Some landowners and registered voters in the affected area complained that there had not been enough community input or public meetings prior to the annexation.  However, the Jury determined that the Santa Ynez Community Services District and the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission had followed policies and procedures required for an annexation but their communications with landowners and registered voters were minimal and confusing.  What was needed were more public informational meetings, better communication with the public and better coordination between the two agencies.