Memorandums of Understanding and Mosquito Management Plan to provide mosquito management services to Storke Ranch for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027

2025100271

Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County (MVMDSBC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

10/7/2025

10/7/2025

Brian Cabrera

Mosquito & Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County

General Manager

Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project

2450 Lillie Ave.
Summerland , CA 93067

(805) 969-5050

bcabrera@mvmdistrict.org

34°25'16.7"N 119°52'4.1"W

Between Storke Rd. and Henry T. Yang Dr.

93117

Highway 101

Ministerial

Sec. 21080(b)(1); 15268

See Attachment A: Staff took samples in September with evidence of both larvae and pupae present in the water sample at the Storke Ranch. At this stage, the District retains no discretion as to whether to abate and, instead, is legally obligated to do so under the Health and Safety Code Sections 2000–2093. Implementation of the District’s suite of approved treatment methods is therefore ministerial, as it involves carrying out a legal mandate with no further discretionary decision-making by the District.

Emergency Project

Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)

See Attachment A: The District is authorized to enter, abate, and recover costs from property owners who refuse to comply with abating mosquitos, and may impose civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day for continuing nuisances. (Health & Saf. Code §§ 2060–2067.) Once a public nuisance is confirmed, the District has a mandatory duty to abate the nuisance. (See Health & Saf. Code §§ 2040-41, 2060.) Staff took samples in September with evidence of both larvae and pupae present in the water sample at the Storke Ranch. As a result, the District’s activities will treat mosquito populations to avoid a health and safety emergency crisis, as mandated by the Health and Safety Code.

Categorical Exemption

Sections 15304. 15306, 15307, 15308, and 15309

See Attachment A: Class 4: The District’s activities are within the scope of this exemption which may include disturbance of minor vegetation or sediment in creeks and other natural channels, agricultural irrigation and drainage ditches, other ditches and flood control channels, storm water retention basins, waste water ponds, spreading grounds, and other environments to assist in preventing breeding of mosquitoes. Class 6: The District’s activities are within the scope of this exemption because it consists of surveying specific areas to collect data on mosquito populations and vector-borne diseases, and will not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. Class 7: The District’s activities fall within this exemption because it involves detailed procedures for protection of the environment by controlling mosquito populations and vector-borne diseases that impact the wildlife in the area. Class 8: The District’s activities fall within this exemption because it involves detailed procedures for protection of the environment by controlling mosquito populations and vector-borne diseases that impact the wildlife in the area. Class 9: The District’s activities fall within this exemption because it involves inspections for the presence of vectors at the Santa Barbara Airport, and other activities to determine the efficacy of specific control operations. None of the exceptions to the Categorical Exemptions listed under Section 15300.2 of the State CEQA Guidelines apply, as the project will not: impact a designated, mapped, and officially adopted environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern; result in a significant cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place over time; have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances; damage a scenic highway or scenic resources within a state scenic highway; be located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code; nor cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource (CEQA Guidelines 15300.2(a)-(f).)