Businesses that flout the county’s public health decrees regarding COVID could soon face fines as high as $500 if the county supervisors vote this Tuesday to enact “an urgency ordinance” to deal with noncompliance, as Kelly Hubbard, director of the Office of Emergency Management, is asking them to do.
While many other jurisdictions already enforce such health orders, Santa Barbara County has been loath to go that route, insisting instead that education, outreach, and persuasion are more effective. Board chair Gregg Hart stated these will remain the preferred methods to achieve compliance but said the new ordinance would give county law enforcement and health agencies a new, more agile tool for dealing with those who refuse to comply. He stressed that the new ordinance will not be used to target individuals who are not wearing masks in public but would be reserved for businesses that have repeatedly refused to comply with public health orders even after being put on notice.
“What we’re hearing is there are instances where business owners have been egregious in failing to comply,” Hart said. He cited the case of a gym in Buellton whose owners, citing ideological reasons, have continued to conduct workout and training sessions indoors. Current health orders allow gyms to operate, but only outdoors. Hart said he has been told that the District Attorney intends to file unfair business practice charges against the gym owners.