Implementation Programs & Policies

The County shall periodically review and update the Right-to-Farm Ordinance when necessary to raise public awareness (including within the local real estate industry) of the Right-to-Farm provisions.

The County shall develop a program that encourages sales and distribution of regionally-grown (in Ventura County or neighboring counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, or Kern) produce to local retailers, restaurants, and markets, and encourage chain stores to develop local distribution centers. The program will encourage residents to select locally grown food products for freshness, local economic development benefits, and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The County shall develop a program to identify opportunities to continue to provide organic and locally grown foods into cafeteria services, the jail, Ventura County Medical Center, and other County-sponsored services and events that provide food service, to the extent feasible.

The County shall revise the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance to include regulations and development standards for agricultural tourism while protecting both the grower and the public. Ordinance revisions may also include additional development standards for agricultural promotional uses, if necessary.

The County shall continue to collaborate with and support the UC Cooperative Extension Office on education programs that inform and assist local farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers in diversifying and establishing expertise in specialty agricultural products.

The County shall conduct a study to identify barriers to local farm stands and take action to remove these barriers which may include an update to the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance, as necessary.

The County shall study the feasibility of encouraging “Farm-to-Front Door” business model and its potential benefits to businesses and residents in Ventura County.

The County shall continue to collaborate with the UC Cooperative Extension Office and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources to implement Nutrient Management Plans for commonly grown local crops featuring best management practices for nitrous oxide (N2O) emission reductions.

The County shall coordinate with the Air Pollution Control District and electric utilities to develop a program to establish a countywide fossil fuel-powered equipment conversion target, track progress on conversions to renewable energy sourced electric powered systems and provide technical assistance to users considering replacement of pumps.

The County shall coordinate with the Air Pollution Control District to develop a program to identify funding sources or develop financial or regulatory incentives to encourage the switch to electric or alternatively fueled agricultural equipment, when feasible.

The County shall continue to collaborate with and support the UC Cooperative Extension Office on educational programs on irrigation techniques to maximize water use efficiency, when feasible.

The County shall collaborate with University of California Cooperative Extension to encourage and facilitate carbon farming projects, including development of demonstration projects and site-specific carbon farm plans, to guide implementation of carbon farming practices throughout the county, when feasible.

The County shall research the potential effects of climate change on the county’s existing agricultural industry as well as the resulting challenges and opportunities associated with these changes. Research partners may include the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN), University of California Cooperative Extension, Ventura County Farm Bureau, and the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. The research shall address, but may not be limited to, loss of chill hours, increased populations of or new species of pests, higher rates of evapotranspiration, and opportunities created by warmer climate to grow crops that were previously unsuitable based on historic climate conditions.

The County should encourage programs and obtain grants to seek funding to subsidize efforts to breed crops that are resilient to high heat, shade crops and installation of light reflectors, and reduce rates of tilling to promote soil health and combat increased temperatures as recommended by federal, state, and local agencies.

Discretionary projects that would result in direct or indirect loss of Important Farmland in exceedance of the acreage loss thresholds listed in the table below shall ensure the permanent protection of offsite farmland of equal quality at a 1:1 ratio (acres preserved: acres converted) through the establishment of an offsite agricultural conservation easement. “Offsite” means an area that is outside of the project’s permit boundaries if applicable, would not be disturbed by the project with respect to agricultural soils or production, and that otherwise complies with the below-stated requirements. Discretionary projects to develop and provide housing for use by farmworkers and their families are not subject to this agricultural conservation easement requirement. 

If the Planning Division, in consultation with the Agricultural Commissioner, determines that a discretionary project would result in direct or indirect loss of Important Farmland in exceedance of the acreage loss thresholds listed in the table above, the project applicant shall prepare and submit a report for the review and approval of the Planning Division in consultation with the Agricultural Commissioner which identifies a minimum of one proposed potential mitigation site suitable for ensuring the permanent protection of offsite farmland of equal quality at a 1:1ratio (acres preserved: acres converted) through the establishment of one or more offsite agricultural conservation easements. The preservation of more than one site agricultural conservation easement may be considered in order to meet the required number of acres. The applicant shall also deposit funds with the County to contract with a qualified third-party agricultural economic consultant to review and advise the Planning Division and Agricultural Commissioner regarding the establishment and implementation of the agricultural conservation easement(s). The contents of the report shall be determined, reviewed, and approved by the Planning Division in consultation with the Agricultural Commissioner (hereafter referred to as the “reviewing agencies”), and shall include information necessary for the reviewing agencies and a qualified entity responsible for holding the conservation easement (e.g., a land trust organization) to determine the viability of the proposed mitigation site(s) for the establishment of a permanent agricultural conservation easement.

Among the factors necessary for approval by the reviewing agencies, the proposed mitigation site(s) shall be located in the County of Ventura unincorporated area, must not already have permanent protection, must be equivalent to or greater than the type of Important Farmland (e.g., Unique farmland) that would be converted by the project, and must be of sufficient size to be viable for long term farming use as determined by the County. Among other terms that may be required by the reviewing agencies in consultation with a qualified entity, the terms of an agricultural conservation easement shall include a requirement that it run with the land. There must also be a provision for annual monitoring by the qualified entity or its representative to ensure adherence to the terms of the conservation easement. Project applicants are responsible for all costs incurred by the County and the qualified entity to successfully implement this mitigation measure. Proof of the successful establishment of an agricultural conservation easement shall be provided to the Planning Division prior to issuance of a zoning clearance for inauguration of the project.

The County shall update the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance to include design and development standards to achieve compact siting of development adjacent to scenic or sensitive biological resources.

The County shall update the County’s GHG emissions inventory at least every five years.

The County shall update the Initial Study Assessment Guidelines to identify a range of mitigation measures for protected biological resources. This will include updating Section 4, Biological Resources, to include the following California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) policy language regarding compensatory mitigation: “When there is no other feasible alternative to avoiding an impact to a wetland habitat, the County shall require the discretionary development to provide restoration and/or replacement habitat as compensatory mitigation such that no overall net loss of wetland habitat results from the development. The restoration and/or replacement habitat shall be "in kind" (i.e. same type and acreage) and provide wetland habitat of comparable biological value. On-site restoration and/or replacement shall be preferred wherever possible. A habitat restoration and/or replacement plan to describe and implement such compensatory mitigation shall be developed in consultation with all agencies that have jurisdiction over the resource.”

The County may amend the GHG Strategy to ensure that the County is on track to achieve its 2030 target and making substantial progress towards achieving its longer-term, post-2030 goals.

The County shall update existing Tree Protection Regulations in the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance to further enhance conservation of our urban forests and the preservation of the County’s oak woodland resources. Updates shall include incorporation of Board-adopted recommendations from the Ventura County Oak Woodlands Management Plan (2007), which includes tree replacement offsets for ministerial development projects that remove protected trees. The County shall also re-evaluate and modify, if necessary, mitigation ratios for tree removal and oak woodland impacts for discretionary development projects, evaluate existing protections for invasive, non-native trees and consider the degree to which they provide habitat for a species during critical life stages (e.g., colonial roost sites, breeding sites, etc.). In addition, the evaluation shall also include anticipated effects of climate change on the urban forest environment

The County shall establish a Climate Emergency Council (CEC) by a resolution of the Board of Supervisors to advise the Board of Supervisors on climate action planning and implementation of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals, policies, and programs. The County agency or department responsible for implementation of this program shall draft, administer, and maintain the CEC bylaws. Initial establishment of the CEC and its bylaws shall include the following terms, duties, and membership composition:

• Term of each member is two years. At the conclusion of a term, a CEC member may be re-appointed or re-selected, as applicable, for a consecutive term by the appointing authority.
• Duties of the CEC members include attendance at duly called meetings; review, in advance, of all written material provided in preparation for CEC meetings; serve and participate on committees and/or sub-committees; and contribute to the CEC’s advisory recommendations to the Board of Supervisors;
• The officers of the CEC shall be Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.
• Officers shall be elected annually at regular meeting each year by CEC members. Nomination shall be made from the floor. Election shall be by simple majority.
• Officers shall serve a one-year term. An officer may be re-elected, but no individual shall serve more than three full consecutive terms in the same office. No member shall hold more than one office at a time.
• The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the CEC, sign all correspondence, reports, and other materials produced by the CEC, and perform any and all other duties prescribed by the CEC from time to time. The Chairperson may serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
• The Vice-Chairperson shall represent the Chairperson and/or substitute in performance of the Chairperson during their absence.
• Membership of the CEC shall be comprised of the following:
  • One person representing each Supervisorial District who has demonstrated interest in and knowledge of climate action planning shall be nominated by each of the five members of the Board of Supervisors, and confirmed by a majority of the Board of Supervisors resulting in a total of five Supervisorial District representatives;
  • One resident from each of the designated disadvantaged communities identified in the 2040 General Plan who has demonstrated an understanding of their community’s needs as well as an interest in and knowledge of climate action planning shall be appointed by a majority of the Board of Supervisors; and
  • Two additional at-large members who have demonstrated special interest, competence, experience, or knowledge in climate action planning shall be selected by a majority of the CEC members.
• Each member is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the CEC.

In partnership with other natural resource agencies and organizations, the County shall explore the feasibility of updating vegetation maps for unincorporated areas to facilitate the accurate analysis of potential impacts of development on vegetation communities and other sensitive biological resources. If necessary, the County shall develop or modify regulations and development standards to ensure adequate protections for vegetation communities.

The CEO shall, within six months from the adoption of the General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan, present to the Board of Supervisors a proposed budget and staffing plan (including qualified technical consultants) to implement the Climate Action Plan, and shall update the budget and staffing plan each year.

Based on the results of Implementation Program COS-D, (updated vegetation mapping), the County shall develop or modify regulations and development standards to ensure adequate protections for vegetation communities and other sensitive biological resources, if necessary.

The County shall amend the Initial Study Assessment Guidelines at Section 7, Paleontological Resources, Attachment: Minimum Qualifications for Paleontological Consultants, and at Section 8a., Cultural Resources – Archaeological, Attachment 2: Minimum Qualifications for Archaeologists, to indicate that archaeology and paleontology consultants shall meet the Secretary of the Interior's (SOI) Standards and Guidelines for archeology and historic preservation. The County shall also amend the Initial Study Assessment Guidelines at Section 7, Paleontological Resources, at Section 8a., Cultural Resources – Archeological, and at Section 8b., Cultural Resources – Historic, to indicate that staff conducting field surveys shall be supervised by an archaeology, paleontology or architectural historian consultant that meets the SOI's Standards and Guidelines within one-year of adoption of the 2040 General Plan.

The County shall evaluate whether a standards 200-foot setback from wetlands should apply to development in order to improve water quality, reduce the impacts of flooding and provide adequate protection for sensitive biological resources.

Applicants for future discretionary development projects that include use of reflective surfaces such as metal, glass, or other materials that could produce glare and that the County determines would potentially be visible to motorists traveling along one or more (RRN) roadways shall submit a detailed site plan and list of project materials to the County for review and approval. If the County determines that the project would include materials that would produce disability or discomfort glare for motorists traveling along one or more RRN roadways then the County will either require the use of alternative materials, such as high-performance tinted non-mirrored glass, painted (non-gloss panels), and pre-cast concrete or fabricated textured wall surfaces, or require that the applicant submit a study demonstrating that the project would not introduce a glare source that exceeds 3:1 in a luminance histogram, which consists of inputting a set of digital photographs from a subject glare source into a computer simulation program and generating a graph that identifies the brightness level of different sections of that scene, from darkest to brightest. Glare impacts from future projects would be considered significant when the glare source to the median of the background ration exceeds 3:1 in a luminance histogram.

The County shall continue to partner with state and federal agencies to identify those areas of the County that are considered to be critical habitats of endangered, threatened or rare species as well as for other significant biological resources.

For any future discretionary development project that could potentially impact sensitive biological resources, the project shall be evaluated pursuant to the methodology described in the Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines which shall be amended within one year of 2040 General Plan adoption to include the following:

• A preliminary assessment of the project shall be completed by County staff, in consultation with a qualified biologist, using available mapped biological resource data and aerial imagery to determine if the project has the potential to impact sensitive biological resources in the defined impact area (direct and indirect impacts). County staff will determine if project conditions or mitigation measures can be developed and implemented that would reduce or avoid those impacts to a less than significant level without requiring a more comprehensive biological resource assessment, otherwise known as an Initial Study Biological Assessment. Examples of projects that would not require a biological resource assessment may include but are not limited to: Projects that occur in previously developed areas, if additional vegetation removal is not required or the use may not impact surrounding natural areas; or projects on land consisting of non-native grasslands totaling less than one acre that are completely surrounded by existing urban development (such as urban infill lots).
• If County staff find that the project may adversely affect sensitive biological resources, then a County approved qualified biologist shall prepare a biological resource assessment to assess and mitigate the adverse impacts of the proposed project. The procedures detailed in Step 3 of the County of Ventura Initial Study Guidelines, Biological Resources Chapter, Methodology Section shall be followed to prepare this biological resource assessment.
• The biological resource assessment shall be conducted by a County approved qualified biologist that meets the minimum qualifications for biological consultants listed in Attachment 1 to the County of Ventura Initial Study Assessment Guidelines. The qualified biologist shall have expertise in the taxonomic group or species on which the surveys are focused as well as the County’s data review procedures and survey methods recommended by natural resource agencies or commonly accepted standards in the taxonomic group, community, or species (e.g., California Native Plant Society survey protocols).
• The biological field survey area will be determined by the County agency responsible for administering the project with consideration of recommendations from the qualified biologist. The survey area will include all areas of proposed disturbance, including associated equipment or personnel staging areas, and the surrounding area of potential sensitive biological resources that may be indirectly adversely affected by the project. The size of the survey area will be based on the characteristics of surrounding habitat, the potential for sensitive biological resources to occur, and the nature of the project. For example, an infill project within an already developed area may not require a large survey area; however, a development project adjacent to natural habitat may require a larger survey area based on the potential for disturbance. The procedure for delineating the size of the survey area will follow Step 1 of the County of Ventura Initial Study Guidelines, Biological Resources Chapter, Methodology Section.
• Prior to conducting any field surveys, the qualified biologist shall conduct an initial data review to determine the type of sensitive biological resources that may occur within the survey area using the procedures detailed in Step 3 (a) of the County of Ventura Initial Study Guidelines, Biological Resources Chapter, Methodology Section. This will include but not be limited to review of the best available, current data including: vegetation mapping data, mapping data from the County (Locally Important Species, Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridor, Water Protection District data, past biological reports in the area, etc.); National Wetland Inventory Database (NWI); USGS National Hydrographic Dataset; EcoAtlas; and database searches of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Critical Habitat, Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS) and Information, Planning, and Conservation System (IPaC); California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB); and California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California; Audubon Important Bird Areas and Red Lists, Xerces Society, etc.

Biological Inventory -Special Status Species, Sensitive Habitats, Wetlands, Other Non-wetland Waters, Native Wildlife Nursery Sites, and Wildlife Corridors

• The biological inventory shall be conducted as detailed in Step 3 (b) Conduct Field Survey and (c) biological inventory, of the County of Ventura Initial Study Guidelines, Biological Resources Chapter, Methodology Section, which includes a general floristic survey of the project impact areas.
• Vegetation communities within the survey area shall be inventoried using the CDFW vegetation classification standards (Manual of California Vegetation) and the most recent version of CDFW vegetation mapping standards “Survey of California Vegetation Classification and Mapping Standards [CDFW, 2019].
• If the initial data review shows a wetland or water occurring within 300 feet (in non-coastal zone) or 500 feet (in coastal zone) from the edge of the proposed disturbance areas, then a qualified biologist shall delineate the aquatic habitat (including waters of the United States and other waters including those under State jurisdiction). A summary of the type of aquatic habitat, primary water source, species diversity, connectivity to off-site habitat or other hydrological features, hydric soils, and hydrophytic vegetation, and the boundary of the feature (based upon the outermost limit of associated vegetation (canopy drip line or scrub line), hydric soils, bank and bed – whichever is greater) shall be included in the biological resource assessment.
• If the initial data review indicates that sensitive biological resources have the potential to occur within the survey area, a qualified biologist shall conduct additional focused surveys for these species or other protected habitats using the most recently updated protocols recommended by natural resource agencies (e.g., Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Natural Communities [CDFW 2018]. Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation [CDFG 2012]), or if not available, standards accepted in the professional biological community to survey that taxonomic group, community, or species. If an established protocol is not available for a special-status species then the qualified biologist will consult with the County, and CDFW or USFWS, to determine the appropriate survey protocol.

Mitigation for Special-Status Species, Sensitive Habitats, Wetlands, Other Non-wetland Waters, Native Wildlife Nursery Sites, and Wildlife Corridors

• If a sensitive biological resource is identified during field surveys, then the County shall require implementation of mitigation measures at the project level that fully account for the adversely affected resource. To the maximum extent feasible¹, mitigation measures should adhere to the following priority to reduce adverse impacts of a proposed project to the resource: avoid impacts, minimize impacts, and compensate for impacts.
• Mitigation measures shall be used on a project level basis and be tailored to on site conditions and sensitive biological resources present as follows:
  • Priority 1. Avoid of Impacts: Proposed development shall avoid impacts to the maximum extent feasible¹ by not taking certain actions or parts of an action. Projects shall be sited to avoid direct or indirect impacts on the resource, and include measures such as implementing no-disturbance buffers (e.g., nesting bird buffer areas during construction, siting staging areas outside buffer area), or implementing project-specific design features (e.g., wildlife-friendly fencing and lighting in a wildlife corridor), such that indirect adverse effects of project development are avoided.
  • Priority 2. Minimize Impacts: Proposed development shall be conditioned to minimize adverse impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation to less than significant to the maximum extent feasible¹. Other mitigation measures may include reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action.
  • Measures to mitigate the spread of invasive plant species and invasive wildlife species (e.g., New Zealand mudsnail) shall include but will not be limited to: cleaning of equipment, footwear, and clothing before entering a construction site and the identification and treatment of significant infestations of invasive plant species within a project site.
• Priority 3. Compensate for Impacts: Compensating for the impact can be done by replacing or providing substitute resources or by rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the impacted environment.
  • Compensatory mitigation ratios for protected sensitive resources will be established based on the rarity of the resource, quality of affected habitat associated with the resource, temporary and permanent losses to habitat function, the type of mitigation proposed (restoration, enhancement, preservation, establishment), and other requirements associated with state or federal permits. Mitigation ratios will be determined at the project level in consultation with the County, the qualified biologist, and, where applicable, federal or state agencies with jurisdiction over the resource (e.g., CDFW, USACE, USFWS).
  • if impacts on a protected sensitive biological resource are unavoidable, then the project proponent shall mitigate for the type of resource as follows:
• Endangered, Rare, Threatened, or Candidate Species: The applicant shall obtain incidental take authorization from USFWS (16 U.S. Code [U.S.C.] Section 1531 et seq.) or CDFW (California Fish and Game Code Sections 2050–2115.5) prior to commencing development of the project site, apply minimization measures or other conditions required under the incidental take authorization, and shall provide equivalent compensation for the unavoidable losses of these resources, generally at a minimum ratio of 1:1, or greater. Compensation may include purchasing credits from a USFWS- or CDFW-approved mitigation bank or restoring or enhancing habitat within the project site or outside of the project site.
• Special-Status Species (includes Locally Important Species): The applicant shall provide equivalent compensation for impacts on special-status species by restoring or significantly enhancing existing habitat where the species occurs, acquiring or protecting land that provides habitat function for affected species that is at least equivalent to the habitat function removed or degraded as a result of project implementation.
  • If impacts on sensitive habitats, wetlands, other non-wetland waters, riparian habitats, native wildlife nursery sites, and wildlife corridors cannot be avoided, then the project applicant shall:
• Federal or State Protected Sensitive Habitats: Obtain the required regulatory authorization (e.g., Section 404 permits for impacts on waters of the United States, 401 water quality certification from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, a Streambed Alteration Agreement for impacts on aquatic or riparian habitats within CDFW jurisdiction under Fish and Game Code Section 1602, a coastal development permit for impacts on ESHA), and provide equivalent compensation for the unavoidable losses of the above mentioned resources such that there is no net loss².
• Other Protected Sensitive Habitats (includes locally important plant communities, sensitive natural communities, habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors, native wildlife nursery or overwintering sites): Provide compensation for other protected sensitive habitats which may include the restoration, enhancement, or preservation of the aforementioned habitats within or outside of the project site, or the purchasing of credits at an existing mitigation bank or in lieu fee program deemed acceptable by the County Planning Director.
  • All compensatory mitigation sites shall be protected in perpetuity through a conservation easement (if off-site), or deed restriction (or other comparable legal instrument) if on-site.

The County shall, in harmonizing the 2040 General Plan with the Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines, add definitions for the habitat types included in this mitigation measure, including which components are subject to compliance with the County’s Local Coastal Program and Coastal Zoning Ordinance versus non-coastal areas.

1. “Feasible” means that this mitigation measure shall be applied to future discretionary projects under the 2040 General Plan when and to the extent it is “capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors” as determined by the County in the context of such future projects based on substantial evidence. This definition is consistent with the definition of “feasible” set forth in CEQA (Pub. Res. Code, § 21066.1) and the CEQA Guidelines (§15164). The County shall be solely responsible for making this feasibility determination in accordance with CEQA.
2. “Mitigation, No-Net-Loss” A principle where if a development project cannot avoid the loss of a valued natural resource, the project mitigates the impacts by replacing the impacted habitat with a newly created or restored habitat of the same size and similar functional condition so that there is no loss of ecological functions and values of that habitat type for a defined area. Similar functional condition means the relative ability to support and maintain the same species composition, diversity, and functional organization as the impacted habitat.

The County shall plant at least one thousand trees annually. ]

As part of a discretionary application process, project applicants (Ventura County for County projects) shall initiate a records search and Sacred Lands File search with the South Central Coastal Information Center.

The County shall apply for grants through the California Coastal Commission and other organizations for beach nourishment, dune restoration, and other adaptation activities to improve the resilience of county beaches to sea-level rise and coastal flooding.

For discretionary projects, the County shall require the following:

• Projects shall be designed to protect existing resources and shall avoid potential impacts to the maximum extent feasible¹.
• If determined necessary by the County, an archaeological or paleontological and/or Native American monitor shall be retained to monitor ground-disturbing activities during construction.
• If any materials or artifacts are discovered during ground disturbance and/or construction activities, construction shall halt until a qualified archaeologist, paleontologist, or Native American monitor can access the discovery. A report or memorandum shall be prepared by the qualified monitor documenting any findings and identifying recommendations for protection or avoidance of discovered resources. Recommendations or mitigation identified by the qualified monitor shall be implemented prior to commencing

1. “Feasible” means that this mitigation measure shall be applied to future discretionary projects under the 2040 General Plan when and to the extent it is “capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors” as determined by the County in the context of such future projects based on substantial evidence. This definition is consistent with the definition of “feasible” set forth in CEQA (Pub. Res. Code, § 21066.1) and the CEQA Guidelines (§ 15164). The County shall be solely responsible for making this feasibility determination in accordance with CEQA. or continuing project activities and/or construction.

The County shall seek official State Scenic Highway designations for County designated Scenic Highways.

During project-specific environmental review of discretionary development, the County shall define the project’s area of potential effect for historic buildings and structures. The County shall determine the potential for the project to result in historic resource impacts, based on the extent of ground disturbance and site modification anticipated for the project. The potential for adverse impacts to historic resources shall also be determined pursuant to the requirements and protocol set forth in the Ventura County ISAG and Cultural Heritage Board Ordinance.

Before altering or otherwise affecting a building or structure 50 years old or older, the project-applicant shall retain a qualified architectural historian according to the Secretary of the Interior Standards, to record it on a California Department of Parks and Recreation DPR 523 form or equivalent documentation, if the building has not previously been evaluated. Its significance shall be assessed by a qualified architectural historian, using the significance criteria set forth for historic resources under CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5. The evaluation process shall include the development of appropriate historical background research as context for the assessment of the significance of the structure in the county and the region. For buildings or structures that do not meet PRC 5024.1 or the CEQA criteria for historical resource, no further mitigation is required.

1.  If the building or structure can be preserved on site, but remodeling, renovation or other alterations are required, this work shall be conducted in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
2. If a significant historic building or structure is proposed for major alteration or renovation, or to be moved and/or demolished, the County shall ensure that a qualified architectural historian thoroughly documents the building and associated landscape and setting. Documentation shall include still and video photography and a written documentary record/history of the building to the standards of the Historic American Building Survey or Historic American Engineering Record, including accurate scaled mapping, architectural descriptions, and scaled architectural plans, if available. The record shall be prepared in consultation with State Historic Preservation Officer and filed with the Office of Historic Preservation. The record shall be accompanied by a report containing site-specific history and appropriate contextual information. This information shall be gathered through site specific and comparative archival research, and oral history collection as appropriate.
3. If preservation and reuse at the site are not feasible¹, the historical building shall be documented as described in item (2) and, when physically and financially feasible¹, be moved and preserved or reused.
4. If, in the opinion of the qualified architectural historian, the nature and significance of the building is such that its demolition or destruction cannot be fully mitigated through documentation, the County shall reconsider project plans in light of the high value of the resource, and implement more substantial modifications to the proposed project that would allow the structure to be preserved intact. These could include project redesign, relocation or abandonment. If no such measures are feasible¹, the historical building shall be documented as described in item (2).

1. “Feasible” means that this mitigation measure shall be applied to future discretionary projects under the 2040 General Plan when and to the extent it is “capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors” as determined by the County in the context of such future projects based on substantial evidence. This definition is consistent with the definition of “feasible” set forth in CEQA (Pub. Res. Code, § 21066.1) and the CEQA Guidelines (§ 15164). The County shall be solely responsible for making this feasibility determination in accordance with CEQA. or continuing project activities and/or construction.

The County shall prepare, and regularly update as needed, specific guidelines for the preservation of significant cultural, historical, paleontological, and archaeological resources.

During project-level ground disturbance activities for discretionary development, in areas where paleontologically rich sites or tribal cultural resources are known to be present, project sites shall be secured during non-construction hours to ensure that the unauthorized access and the unlawful curation of fossil materials or tribal cultural resources does not occur. Such security measures may include construction fencing, unauthorized access signage, security lighting, and security cameras. For large-scale development, a security plan may be prepared prior to construction activities to detail security measures and protocol for the project site.

The County shall require discretionary projects that include fracking, well stimulation treatment, cyclic steaming, and/or steam flooding be evaluated for potential effects on ground water contamination, exacerbation of seismic activity, water use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and other impacts.

The Climate Emergency Council that would be established under COS-CC shall develop recommended subprograms which implement the 52 policies identified in Table 4.8-7 of the draft EIR that do not have associated implementation programs in the 2040 General Plan. For any additional future policies that may be adopted as part of the County’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Strategy (2040 General Plan, Policy COS- 10.1), the CEC may recommend new subprograms. The CEC shall demonstrate in the materials submitted to the Board of Supervisors that the proposed subprograms and policies would result in quantifiable GHG emission reductions that further the County’s progress towards achieving the 2030, 2040, and 2050 GHG reduction targets and goals established in the 2040 General Plan. The GHG emission reduction policy topics that may be considered and analyzed by the CEC for recommendation to the Board of Supervisors are identified in the Table 4.8- 7 and include but are not limited to the following:

• Sustainable Technologies;
• Regional Bicycle Infrastructure;
• Funding and Maintenance for Sidewalks;
• Amtrak Service Improvements;
• Routine Use of Alternative Transportation Options;
• Permeable Pavement;
• Facilities for Emerging Technologies;
• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations;
• Neighborhood Electric Vehicles;
• Shared Mobility Operations;
• Sustainable Community Facility Design;
• Energy Efficient Facility Construction, Purchases, Leases, Retrofits, and Expansions;
• Agricultural Waste Reuse;
• Value-Added Alternatives to Waste Disposal;
• Smart Grid Development;
• Consistent Fire Protection Standards for New Development;
• Soil Productivity;
• Incentives for Energy Efficiency;
• Battery Energy Storage Systems;
• Air Pollutant Reduction;
• Air Pollution Impact Mitigation Measures for Discretionary Development;
• Transportation Control Measures Programs;
• Alternative Transportation Modes;
• Urban Greening;
• Integrated Pest Management Practices;
• Technological Innovation; and
• Renewable Energy Facilities.

The CEC’s recommended GHG reduction subprograms and policies shall be presented to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, and then to the Board of Supervisors for consideration and approval, no later than 2025. The Board of Supervisors shall have sole authority to adopt (including as modified) and direct the County’s implementation of the subprograms and policies that are developed and recommended by the CEC. Any CEC recommendation that would require amendments to the 2040 General Plan, County ordinances, policies or regulations shall be processed and approved by the County in accordance with all applicable legal requirements.

The County shall evaluate the feasibility of establishing a local tax on all oil and gas operations located in the unincorporated county.

The County shall evaluate and as necessary update the local Surface Mining Reclamation Act ordinance within three years of adoption of the 2040 General Plan.

The County shall prepare sustainable building, siting, and landscaping practice guidelines that promote a whole systems approach to building designs and construction techniques that reduce consumption of non-renewable resources such as oil, gas and water and promote renewable energy use.

By 2022, the County shall conduct a study of going to 2,500-foot setback(s) that should be required between oil wells and related extraction facilities and surrounding sensitive receptors for a future potential General Plan amendment.

The County shall conduct a study and prepare a publicly available assessment of suitable undeveloped lands near electrical transmission and distribution lines that serve as priority areas for the development of utility-scale solar energy generation and storage projects. If suitable locations are identified, the County shall establish a new zone, if necessary, called a Renewable Energy Priority Zone, for these sites in the County’s Coastal and Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinances.

The County shall conduct a study that demonstrates the energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) savings of the options identified in Implementation Program COS-R using modeled building prototypes. To satisfy state regulatory requirements for Energy Reach Code adoption, the study shall also demonstrate long-term cost savings of the options through a life-cycle cost analysis that considers the initial costs of efficiency improvements offset by utility bill cost savings and other relevant factors.

To incentivize the development of the Renewable Energy projects, the County shall consider waiving permit fees for renewable energy generation or storage projects.

The County shall maintain and update as needed the Building Code to establish performance-based standards that incentivize green building techniques.

The County shall update the Building Code to include a mandatory Energy Reach Code.

The County shall continue to review its energy consumption performance and implement programs designed to increase energy efficiency in County-owned buildings, including, but not limited to:

• reduced operating hours for heating, ventilating and lighting systems,
• installation of weather stripping on all openable doors and windows,
• development of energy audit and energy management programs,
• implementation of operation and maintenance programs which contribute to energy conservation,
• develop energy audits and energy management programs for all County-owned facilities,
• develop a plan to re-invest utility company rebates and utility savings into a long-range funding program for on-going conservation projects,
• implement operational and maintenance programs which contribute to energy conservation,
• investigate and implement new energy technologies such as solar and fuel cells,
• install energy management systems in all County-owned facilities to control air conditioning and lighting systems where beneficial,
• install ceiling, wall, and roof insulation whenever feasible,
• install plumbing flow restrictors in toilets, lavatories and showers, and
• provide energy conservation training and literature to all County agencies.

The County shall amend the County’s Coastal and Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinances to require parking lots for new non-residential construction projects, with floor area of greater than 50,000 square feet, to include solar canopies.

The County shall encourage community members to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase awareness about energy efficiency and climate change and adaptation, to conduct targeted outreach to homeowners and contractors to encourage installation of electric appliances upon routine replacement of natural gas appliances and heaters and provide information regarding financial incentives.

The County shall develop a behavior change program for energy efficiency and conservation. This program would provide energy literacy training for low-income customers on buying energy-efficient products or using energy more efficiently; develop and offer digital applications offering real-time energy use information to residents and businesses; offer anonymized data on community energy use for residents to compare performance; and provide rewards or rebates for improved energy conservation.

The County shall implement the General Plan GHG Strategy through specific policies, programs, and implementing actions integrated throughout the General Plan and summarized in Appendix B.

The County shall implement, under the overall direction of the CEO and with support of RMA, PWA, GSA, AGC, FD, and other departments as appropriate, the GHG Strategy through specific policies, programs, and implementing actions integrated throughout the General Plan and summarized in Appendix B, Climate Action Plan, as well as other appropriate actions adopted from time to time. The greenhouse gas reduction strategy shall consist of a comprehensive program to systematically reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet adopted emission reduction targets and deadlines from all sectors – transportation, buildings, solid waste, stationary sources, agriculture, water and wastewater, and off-road equipment.

The County shall prepare public reports on the results of GHG Strategy implementation and monitoring and present these reports to the Board of Supervisors. The first report shall be submitted to the Board of Supervisors two years after the approval of the General Plan, after which the Board of Supervisors will determine the appropriate future reporting interval. The County shall also present a more detailed progress report to the Board of Supervisors, including results of the latest GHG inventory update, every five years.

The County shall update its Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee Program and perform a comprehensive update to the program a minimum once every ten (10) years pursuant to Government Code Section 66000 et seq.

The County shall update and adopt its Initial Study Assessment Guidelines (ISAG) no later than 2025 to address Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and safety metrics pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3. This program shall consider inclusion of the following components:

• Establishment of screening criteria to define projects not required to submit detailed VMT analysis, such as infill projects, inclusion of locally serving commercial, transit supportive projects, or transportation enhancements that reduce VMT;
• Establishment of thresholds of significant for identifying VMT related transportation impacts to meet or exceed State requirements; at minimum the thresholds will be equivalent to the threshold values for different project types identified in Mitigation Measure CTM-1;
• Standard mitigation measures for significant transportation impacts; and
• Specify the County’s procedures for reviewing projects with significant and unavoidable impacts, under CEQA, related to VMT.

To support climate change related goals and CEQA related VMT policies pursuant to SB 743 (2013), the County shall develop a VMT Reduction Program no later than 2025. This program will contain a range of project- and program-level mitigation measures and VMT reduction strategies, that could include:

• Preparation of a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program to promote mode shifts from single occupant vehicle use to transit, ridesharing, active transportation, telecommuting, etc.; and,
• Transportation System Management applications such as park-and-ride lots, intelligent transportation system (ITS) field deployment, pavement management, etc.

This program shall identify measures to achieve an additional five percent overall reduction in VMT by 2030, and 10 percent by 2040 relative to 2030 and 2040 business as usual scenarios, respectively. During implementation of the 2040 General Plan, the County will review and update the VMT Reduction Program as warranted to provide additional mitigation measures and programs that achieve these levels of VMT reduction.

The County shall continue to coordinate across its own agencies as well as with cities in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties and Caltrans to identify needed improvements to the Regional Road Network. This will include identification of funds available and needed for County and cities inter-city road-building purposes to construct improvements.

The County shall continue to maintain its Pavement Management System (PMS) to identify Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and ensure that the County road network is kept in a state of good repair with an emphasis and priority on goods movement corridors (e.g., Surface Transportation Assistance Act, Overweight Vehicle corridor, or local County roadways designated as part of the National Highway System). The PCI thresholds for pavement rehabilitation shall be based on guidance provided by the Board of Supervisors.

The County shall maintain and update as needed its Overweight Vehicle Corridors as Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) Terminal Access routes to connect to the National Network.

The County shall work with the Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) to determine feasibility of grade separations for segments of the mobilization corridors to ease mobility and allow for uninterrupted mission operations and military readiness.

The County shall prepare and adopt Complete Streets Design Guidelines/standards to be used when constructing new roadways or improving existing roadways where Complete Streets would be appropriate/feasible. Complete Streets Design Guidelines/standards should be consistent with the pedestrian and bicycle design guidelines and design standards established by Caltrans and supporting state/federal guidelines when designing bicycle/pedestrian facilities. These include the California MAnnual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), Highway Design MAnnual, Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The County shall improve pedestrian safety at intersections and mid-block locations in developed communities by providing pedestrian crossing treatments where appropriate.

The County shall update Road Standards to include the Complete Street Design Guidelines/Standards.

The County shall develop a Vision Zero strategy for the County of Ventura with the goal of reducing all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.

The County shall support the Safe Routes to School Program by identifying opportunities to support bike and pedestrian routes to schools, identify needed improvements and opportunities to increase public access and use of these routes.

The County shall develop a master bicycle network plan that includes the recommendations from the Bicycle Wayfinding Study and the prioritized list of bike lanes from the Board approved criteria.

The County shall continue to participate in and support the Ventura County Transportation Commission in updates to the Bicycle Wayfinding Plan linking all Ventura County cities, unincorporated communities, and CSUCI.

The County shall work with the Ventura County Transportation Commission to analyze the feasibility of shared micromobility (e.g., bike sharing) vendors being required to provide storage/parking areas or facilities to be designated and/or physically placed outside of the public right-of-way if private shared mobility vendors are allowed to operate within the unincorporated areas of the county.

The County shall consider designating parking areas in County parking facilities for Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) vehicles to use between customer service runs and will work with cities to provide locations as well.

Following June 30, 2020 and prior to completion of Implementation Program CTM-B, all projects (not otherwise exempt from CEQA analysis) shall be evaluated for potential environmental impacts relative to VMT using the State’s minimum reduction standards, as follows:

Project Type	Measurement Unit	Model Trip Types	Minimum Criteria	Baseline VMT	Threshold VMT
Residential	VMT/Capita	Average of all Home Based Trip Types	15% Reduction of Regional Average	9.66	8.21
Office	VMT/Employee	Home Based Work Trips	15% Reduction of Regional Average	13.52	11.49
Industrial	VMT/Employee	Home Based Work Trips	15% Reduction of Regional Average	13.52	11.49
Retail	Unincorporated VMT	All Trip Types	No Net Increase in Regional VMT	7,500,249	7,500,249
Agriculture	Unincorporated VMT	All Trip Types	No Net Increase in Regional VMT	7,500,249	7,500,249
Infrastructure	Unincorporated VMT	All Trip Types	No Net Increase in Regional VMT	7,500,249	7,500,249
All Other Project Types	Unincorporated VMT	All Trip Types	No Net Increase in Regional VMT	7,500,249	7,500,249

If a proposed project is found to have a significant impact on VMT, the impact must be reduced, as feasible¹, by modifying the project’s VMT to a level below the established thresholds of significance and/or mitigating the impact through multimodal transportation improvements or mitigations to enhance transportation mode shift (use of alternative transportation modes). Following completion and adoption of VMT thresholds as part of the Ventura County ISAG, this implementation program shall no longer apply.

1. “Feasible” means that this mitigation measure shall be applied to future discretionary projects under the 2040 General Plan when and to the extent it is “capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors” as determined by the County in the context of such future projects based on substantial evidence. This definition is consistent with the definition of “feasible” set forth in CEQA (Pub. Res. Code, § 21066.1) and the CEQA Guidelines (§ 15164). The County shall be solely responsible for making this feasibility determination in accordance with CEQA.

The County shall require that discretionary development which adds traffic to roadways traversing within a County designated substandard roadway impact area contribute the fair share cost of any safety counter-measures that improve the safety of the impacted roadways by paying the applicable fees under the County’s Traffic Impact Fee Mitigation program prior to the issuance of Zoning Clearance.

The County shall plan capital improvements needed to provide transportation infrastructure that is maintained and/or upgraded to provide appropriate emergency access.

The County shall review and update the Economic Vitality Strategic Plan every five years.

The County shall work with the Economic Vitality Strategic Plan Steering Committee to explore designated Opportunity Zones identified pursuant to the Federal Tax Cuts and Job Act (December 22, 2017) to promote investments that benefits the residents living within them and minimizes potential displacement.

The County shall prepare development standards, including those that provide for adequate infrastructure, for development on remaining vacant commercial and industrial sites to encourage infill and revitalization of underutilized sites.

The County shall consider the development of an Office of Economic Development to promote Ventura County as budgets allow.

The County shall coordinate with the Economic Development Collaborative - Ventura County to focus on retention and expansion of existing businesses in key industry clusters, including Naval Base Ventura County and Port of Hueneme support businesses.

The County shall identify the necessary policies, regulations, and development standards for critical broadband infrastructure, such as fiber optics, shadow conduit, vertical assets and dig once policies. Based on this work, the County shall develop a Broadband Master Plan in cooperation with service providers to identify how high-speed broadband infrastructure and services will be funded, developed and deployed.

The County shall provide data and staff resources to support the Ventura County Workforce Development Board in the implementation of the Ventura County Regional Workforce Development Plan to address workforce readiness and development, and local graduate retention.

The County shall conduct an evaluation of its hiring practices, in coordination with education and training providers, to determine how the County can maximize local hiring.

In coordination with federal, state, and local partners (e.g., CAL FIRE), the County shall update and maintain educational programs related to such issues as:

• Learning how to recognize the first signs of fire and take appropriate action;
• Living with the risks of fire within the wildland/urban interface; and
• Methods of improving the resilience of homes and other structures.

To support the proposed reach codes under COS-S, the 2040 General Plan shall include a new program in the Hazards and Safety element that prohibits the installation of new natural gas infrastructure in new residential development through amendments to the Ventura County Building Code. This program shall also be extended to new commercial development including but not limited to offices, retail buildings, and hotels. The County may exempt new commercial development from these requirements upon making findings based on substantial evidence that the use of natural gas is critical to business operations, and that it is not feasible³ to replace critical appliances or equipment with electricity powered equivalents. This program shall be completed no later than 2023.

3. “Feasible” means that this mitigation measure shall be applied to future discretionary projects under the 2040 General Plan when and to the extent it is “capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors” as determined by the County in the context of such future projects based on substantial evidence. This definition is consistent with the definition of “feasible” set forth in CEQA (Pub. Res. Code, § 21066.1) and the CEQA Guidelines (§ 15164). The County shall be solely responsible for making this feasibility determination in accordance with CEQA.

In collaboration with the federal, state, and local partners (e.g., CAL FIRE), U.S. Forest Service, other agencies involved in wildfire response planning), the County shall update and map new locations that may be vulnerable to wildfire hazards including: damage to electrical, transportation, and communication infrastructure; increased rates of erosion, landslide, and water quality degradation; loss of residential, commercial, and industrial structures; and ecological disturbance.

To address GHG emissions associated with electricity consumption by industrial buildings, which were not quantified in the GHG Inventory and Forecasting due to utility privacy rules, the County shall implement a program to adopt a Building Energy Saving Ordinance, no later than 2025, for industrial buildings over 25,000 square feet in size, modeled after the local benchmarking ordinances adopted in other local jurisdictions in California (CEC 2019). The County shall prepare reports showing the energy performance of industrial buildings relative to similar buildings in California and the United States and make these reports available to the public by request. The County, through its building department shall provide recommendations on energy efficiency retrofits and green building strategies to improve energy performance to property owners and tenants subject to the reporting requirements.

Directly following a wildfire disaster, the County shall conduct a post-fire assessment to identify vulnerabilities and projects that address vulnerabilities. The goal of the post-fire assessment shall be to protect public safety, enhance access and evacuation, and reestablish essential functional needs to communities and ecosystems to minimize flooding, protect water quality, reduce landslide and debris flow occurrence, and limit pollution.

The County shall revise the Construction Noise Threshold Criteria and Control Plan within one year of 2040 General Plan adoption to consider all potential vibrationinducing activities and include various measures, setback distances, precautions, monitoring programs, and alternative methods to traditional construction activities with the potential to result in structural damage or excessive groundborne noise. Items that shall be addressed in the plan include, but are not limited to, the following:  

• Ground vibration-producing activities, such as pile driving and blasting, shall be limited to the daytime hours between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays or 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.  
• If pile driving is used, pile holes shall be predrilled to the maximum feasible depth to reduce the number of blows required to seat a pile.  
• All construction equipment on construction sites shall be operated as far away from vibration-sensitive sites as reasonably possible.  
• Earthmoving, blasting and groundimpacting operations shall be phased so as not to occur simultaneously in areas close to sensitive receptors, to the extent feasible. The total vibration level produced could be significantly less when each vibration source is operated at separate times.  
• Minimum setback requirements for different types of ground vibrationproducing activities (e.g., pile driving and blasting) for the purpose of preventing damage to nearby structures shall be established. Factors to be considered include the specific nature of the vibration producing activity (e.g., type and duration of pile driving), local soil conditions, and the fragility/resiliency of the nearby structures. Established setback requirements (i.e., 100 feet) can be breached if a project-specific, site specific analysis is conducted by a qualified geotechnical engineer or ground vibration specialist that indicates that no structural damage would occur at nearby buildings or structures.  
• Minimum setback requirements for different types of ground vibration producing activities (e.g., pile driving and blasting) for the purpose of preventing negative human response shall be established based on the specific nature of the vibration producing activity (e.g., type and duration of pile driving), local soil conditions, and the type of sensitive receptor. Established setback requirements (i.e., 300 feet) can be breached only if a project-specific, site-specific, technically adequate ground vibration study indicates that the buildings would not be exposed to ground vibration levels in excess of 80 VdB, and ground vibration measurements performed during the construction activity confirm that the buildings are not being exposed to levels in excess of 80 VdB.
• All vibration-inducing activity within the distance parameters described above shall be monitored and documented for ground vibration noise and vibration noise levels at the nearest sensitive land use and associated recorded data submitted to Ventura County so as not to exceed the recommended FTA levels.  
• Alternatives to traditional pile driving (e.g., sonic pile driving, jetting, castin- place or auger cast piles, nondisplacement piles, pile cushioning, torque or hydraulic piles) shall be considered and implemented where feasible⁴ to reduce vibration levels.

⁴ “Feasible” means that this mitigation measure shall be applied to future discretionary projects under the 2040 General Plan when and to the extent it is “capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors” as determined by the County in the context of such future projects based on substantial evidence. This definition is consistent with the definition of “feasible” set forth in CEQA (Pub. Res. Code, § 21066.1) and the CEQA Guidelines (§ 15164). The County shall be solely responsible for making this feasibility determination in accordance with CEQA.

The County Sheriff's Department, Office of Emergency Services shall review and revise the Dam Failure Contingency section of the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan every five years and continue to provide public information on dam failure preparedness and response.

Prior to July 1, 2021, and every five (5) years thereafter, the County Fire Protection District shall assist the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection in surveying the County and preparing a list identifying all existing subdivisions over 30 dwellings located in a state responsibility area or a very high fire hazard severity zone, identified pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code, without a secondary egress route and that are at significant fire risk. The County shall consult and assist the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and with the California State Fire Marshall to develop recommendations to improve fire safety in the identified subdivisions.

The County shall update planning documents, maps, and the Operational Area Tsunami Evacuation Plan, when necessary to reflect the most current tsunami information, and identify actions necessary to mitigate property damage, and maintain evacuation readiness. (MPSP, SO)

The County shall work with the Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), other jurisdictions, the Oxnard Harbor District (OHD), California Department of Conservation, and the Department of Defense (DOD) to develop a Climate Change Impact Assessment that addresses issues related to climate change and military installations, including sea level rise, wildfires, and stormwater runoff intensities.

The County shall seek funding to prepare and implement a communication program that periodically provides updates to the Board of Supervisors, and other stakeholders regarding impacts from sea level rise and planning decisions to address those impacts.

The County shall consider the feasibility of amending the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance and Coastal Zoning Ordinance to require technical analysis of projected sea level rise exposure for the siting and design of new discretionary development.

The County shall coordinate with regional stakeholders to assess vulnerabilities from the effects of, and opportunities to enhance the resiliency to, sea level rise on estuaries, wetlands, and groundwater basins. This assessment should consider factors that influence the conditions of an estuary or wetland, including sea level rise, rainfall, surface heat budget, wind, and ocean acidification.

The County shall continue to require Hazardous Materials Business Plans and Hazardous Materials Response Plans for any business which handles hazardous material to ensure that plans for emergency response to a release or threatened release of a hazardous material and/or waste are maintained and monitored.

For County facilities that could potentially be the source of a marine oil spill or onshore oil spill, the County shall develop, exercise, review, and share their prevention and response plans with regulatory and emergency agencies. The County shall also continue to participate in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response Area Contingency Plan process.

The VC Alert Emergency Notification System shall be used to provide timely instructional information to residents in an emergency. The County shall also continue to engage in outreach efforts to inform the public about the VC Alert System such as distributing printed informational materials at County- and city-sponsored community events and meetings. Furthermore, the County shall maintain and update an incident webpage to serve as a single, central location for residents to receive realtime emergency information during an emergency. The VCEmergency.com website provides the public with real-time incident information such as evacuation locations, road closures, human and animal evacuation shelters, fire perimeters, and more.

The County shall update coastal and beach signage, when necessary, to identify appropriate public access locations to the beach, coastal areas, and wetlands near Point Mugu so as not to breach military security.

The County shall work with Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) to define criteria that can be used to determine when a discretionary project involving the use of the radio frequency spectrum that are close to military channels require review and coordination with the Navy to ensure that radio frequencies do not disrupt NBVC communications with aircraft.

The County shall modify the NCZO and CZO, if necessary, to prohibit the placement and use of facilities that use solar concentration for generation of commercial power that could generate glare and potential to disable pilots and impact flight or test operations at Naval Base Ventura County.

The County shall map locations of countyowned facilities and infrastructure that may be vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat. When necessary, the County will develop a plan to upgrade such infrastructure to be more resilient to periods of high heat, which may include the use of heat-tolerant, reflective, or other resilient types of materials.

The County shall establish feasible standards for inclusion of solar PV carports in County-owned parking lots.

The County shall apply for grant funding for climate change adaptation planning efforts from available private and public sources.

The County shall provide multilingual education and outreach to residents and businesses to publicize the symptoms and dangers of heat-related illness, cooling center locations, how to sign up for the Ready Ventura County VC Alert Program, worker-related protections, and practical methods for preventing heat-related illness during periods of high heat.

The County shall adopt a Cool Roof Ordinance that exceeds the prescriptive cool roof requirements of the 2019 California Building Energy Efficiency Standard for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings by 25 percent (California Energy Code). Under a Cool Roof Ordinance, the County would require new construction to replace or re-coat 2,500 square feet for nonresidential and 1,250 square feet of roof space for residential buildings, or 72.5 percent or more of roofs.

The County shall develop incentive programs to promote passive solar home design and the use of green roofs and rooftop gardens when feasible. The program shall include but may not be limited to, permit streamlining and permit fee reductions to apply passive solar home design to future residential buildings.

The County shall incorporate cool pavement standards into the County’s development standards for County and private development projects, in both new construction and changes to existing on-site paved surface areas (e.g., parking lots, private roadways, other hardscapes).

The County shall establish incentive programs, which may include rebate programs, permit fee reductions, and tax deductions, to incentivize the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) carports in existing and future parking lots.

The County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services (OES) shall continue to maintain and update the Ventura County Multi- Hazard Mitigation Plan every five years and update the Ventura County Emergency Operations Plan every three years. Updates will include including mitigation measures and preparedness, response, and recovery strategies for hazards identified in this Element. To the extent feasible, County agencies shall, and other public agencies are encouraged to, participate in joint emergency planning and response training, and cooperatively respond to emergencies when they occur.

Discretionary development projects that will generate construction-related air emissions shall be required to include the following types of emission reduction measures and potentially others, as recommended by VCAPCD in its Air Quality Assessment Guidelines or otherwise, to the extent applicable to the project as determined by the County: maintaining equipment per manufacturer specifications; lengthening construction duration to minimize number of vehicle and equipment operating at the same time during the summer months; use of Tier 3 at a minimum, or Tier 4 if commercially available diesel engines in all off-road construction diesel equipment; and, if feasible² using electric-powered or other alternative fueled equipment in place of diesel powered equipment..

2. “Feasible” means that this mitigation measure shall be applied to future discretionary projects under the 2040 General Plan when and to the extent it is “capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors” as determined by the County in the context of such future projects based on substantial evidence. This definition is consistent with the definition of “feasible” set forth in CEQA (Pub. Res. Code, § 21066.1) and the CEQA Guidelines section 15164). The County shall be solely responsible for making this feasibility determination in accordance with CEQA