Council listens to flag etiquette presentation from local scout
The Solvang City Council, in its Monday, June 9, regular meeting approved a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management to activate a new emergency mapping platform.
City Management Analyst Olivia Uribe-Mutal introduced the item and said approval would allow the city to participate in ReadySBC.com, which provides alerts and information in times of emergency and the platform known as Genasys EVAC.
Uribe-Mutal described Genasys EVAC as a “zone-based emergency response tool” that enhances the ability of public safety agencies to plan, coordinate, and communicate protective actions during emergencies. Santa Barbara County selected Genasys EVAC as a countywide tool to complement existing alerting platforms, such as Everbridge, and to streamline multi-jurisdictional coordination.
The platform is composed of an internal user interface for first responders and emergency managers to access real-time decision-support data including hazard overlays, population metrics, evacuation sites, and critical infrastructure; and A public-facing map accessible via the ReadySBC.org website and the Genasys Protect mobile application, displaying live evacuation statuses, road closures, and shelter information. The system enables rapid, zone-based communication during emergencies and is designed to ensure
“The Genasys EVAC is a significant step forward for those of us in emergency management,” Uribe-Mutal said. “Solvang will be able to manage and update its own emergency zones. We’ll be able to gain additional support and improve our situational awareness in rapidly evolving events. We’ll also be fully integrated with the county during these events.”
This will be a no cost to the city, Uribe-Mutal pointed out, as it is covered by a Homeland Security grant through fiscal year 2027-28, and will allow Solvang to keep control of its own data on the system.
In discussions with Santa Barbara County Emergency Manager Stacy Silva, there was confusion over maps. The council has just approved the Fire Severity Zone Map (FSZM) from the state as part of the Consent Calendar, and Councilmember Mark Infanti noted that the zone where he lives has a yellow (or moderate fire hazard) marked on part of his parcel and asked if he would be getting an alert. Silva however, told the council that the county system had nothing to do with that map and emergency zones would be determined locally for the purposes of the specific incident.
After Silva completed an overview of the system, Mayor David Brown asked if ongoing training for the system would be the responsibility of the county or city and what would the cost be when the grant ran out. Silva said the city would be responsible for the training, but then City Manager Randy Murphy said any costs after the grant would be negligible.
Ultimately, Infanti moved to approve the MOA with Councilmember Elizabeth Orona seconding, and the motion passed 5-0.
In other business, council approved the awarding of a project to replace deteriorating pipes in the Nyborg Estates neighborhood to Tierra Contracting Inc. The item contained a dispute because out of the 13 bids, Tierra actually submitted the second lowest, with Joseph Engineering getting the low bid.
However, Facility Director Jose Acosta said Joseph’s application wasn’t complete at the bid deadline, so they went with the next lowest.
Crystal Joseph, the owner and vice president of Joseph Engineering, was at the meeting and during public comment, said the application was incomplete due to a clerical error but was still the lowest bid, and asked if council could delay the item.
City Counsel Chelsea O’Sullivan and Murphy said the council had the right to waive the decision on the bid but weren’t required to. The council opted to approve the Tierra bid after Elizabeth Orona commented that Acosta “took the lowest from your perspective.”
To begin the meeting, council welcomed Scout Leo Brownstein from Troop 33 in Santa Barbara to conduct a presentation on flag etiquette as part of his Eagle Scout Project. Brown said he thought a presentation like this would be a great idea when he from a constituent about seeing some flags not at half staff during the mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter, who died last December.
After receiving a proclamation from the city, Brownstein made his presentation with the help of fellow Scouts Nathan and Noah Cortez from Troop 87 in Orcutt, who displayed the proper way to fold a flag.
The City Council will meet next on Monday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m.
