The County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved funding to add security screening areas at the 105 East Anapamu St. administration building, seen here, and the Santa Maria administration building.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved funding to add security screening areas at the 105 E. Anapamu St. administration building in Santa Barbara, seen here, and the Santa Maria administration building. (Giana Magnoli / Noozhawk photo)

Airport-style security screening will be added to Santa Barbara County’s administration buildings in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara after the Board of Supervisors approved the project and $450,000 expense at Tuesday’s meeting.

General Services will get a contractor to make physical improvements to control building access and then implement a visitor management plan that includes walk-through metal detectors and X-ray inspection systems, according to the county.

The two administration buildings are located at 105 E. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara and 511 E. Lakeside Pkwy. in Santa Maria. They will be anomalies since most local government buildings do not have weapons screening areas for public access.

Supervisors voted 4-1 to support the project, with Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson opposed.

First District Supervisor Das Williams, who has been an elected official for almost 20 years, said he never would have supported the project 10 years ago, but it’s in response to a changing world.

There are multiple public entrances to the first floor of the County Administration Building in Santa Barbara, where there are elevators and stairs to upper floors.

There are multiple public entrances to the first floor of the County Administration Building in Santa Barbara, where there are elevators and stairs to upper floors. (Giana Magnoli / Noozhawk photo)

Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said he struggled with a decision on adding security.

“If it was just my office or your office, I don’t think I would approve the funding, but I can’t imagine how I would feel if someone came in and did something,” Lavagnino said. “We have a lot of people working in these buildings.”

Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann said she supported the project because of mental health issues and the availability of guns.

“I don’t want to be on the side of having regrets because we didn’t act prudently,” she said.

The first floor of the County Administration Building in Santa Barbara looking toward Anapamu Street and the County Courthouse.

The first floor of the County Administration Building in Santa Barbara looking toward the Anapamu Street entrance and the County Courthouse. (Giana Magnoli / Noozhawk photo)

Nelson, in opposition, said: “I’m personally philosophically opposed to that level of security in our administration buildings, and personally, I don’t think the risk justifies it. I think it has a chilling impact on the relationship between the public and this body.”

The Santa Barbara County Administration Building at Anacapa and Anapamu streets has private security personnel assigned to the first floor near the entrances but no screening area for county workers or visitors.

The security project does not appear to be in response to anything specific.

“These security improvements are the next logical step to help ensure the continuity of government operations and help to safeguard the public and county staff while attending public functions at the County Administration Buildings in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara,” the General Services staff report states. 

Santa Barbara County Superior Court facilities have secruity screening at entrances, including one added to the historic Anacapa courthouse during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.