APCD board elects 2026 leadership, confirms committee slate; closed session yields no reportable action

At its Jan. 15 meeting, the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District board followed its tradition of rotating leadership and formally elected Director Lavinino as chair and Director Brown as vice chair for 2026. The motion to confirm the leadership slate was seconded and passed unanimously on roll call.

The board then approved appointments to standing committees: three members for the Executive Committee (generally the chair, vice chair and past chair), five members to the Hearing Board Nominating Committee (representing each Board of Supervisor district), and a primary and alternate representative to the South Central Coast Basinwide Control Council. The slate of committee assignments was approved unanimously.

Before the meeting adjourned to closed session, the clerk read the closed-session item: conference with labor negotiators under the Government Code regarding negotiations with employee organizations (Engineering and Technicians Association, SEIU Local 620) and unrepresented management and confidential employees. After reconvening, the boards closed-session report noted the board met with the district-designated representative (Aaron Arlingenay) and took no reportable action.

The board also approved the Oct. 16, 2025 minutes and various administrative items during the meeting; one administrative vote passed 10-1 with Director Mosby recorded as the sole 'no' vote.

The meeting was adjourned with an announcement that the session would be rebroadcast and that the next meeting is scheduled for March 19 at 1 p.m.