Board of Supervisors Meeting | 11.18.2025

by | Nov 30, 2025 | Economic Development, Get Involved, Stay Informed, Your Opinion Matters

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This board meeting included two presentations: one from the Small Business Development Center and one from Two Six Digital, a digital marketing agency specializing in tourism promotion. The board approved all 15 items on the Consent Calendar, conducted a Public Hearing on fees, and approved two items under County Matters. There was one item under Closed Session.

Our CAO, Trent Tuthill, announced that he will not be renewing his contract when it expires in April.

A. PRESENTATIONS

A.1. Board of Supervisors – Receive a presentation from Two Six Digital Senior Director of Strategy & Education Brian V. Matson regarding Tourism in Trinity County. No fiscal impact.

  • Brian Matson – shared support for the work done by the Trinity Chamber. He feels there is no need for additional strategic work. He encouraged considering consulting services to build on what is in place (strategy, tools, tactics, etc.).

A.2. Clerk of the Board – Receive a presentation from Shasta-Cascade Small Business Development Center regarding small business services available at no cost to Trinity County businesses. No fiscal impact.

  • Alex presented the information included in the backup materials.
  • Two offices for our NorCal region – Yreka and Redding
  • Shasta College – Trinity Office – marketing consultants provide consulting and workshops
  • Vertical IQ – a tool that is available through the organization.
  • SEO Tools that can identify opportunities for improvement
  • Audience – Nascent Stage, Start-ups, Expansion
  • Technical Assistance
  • Networking – introductions/connections to people who can help them pursue their plans.
  • Duration – not just a one-off meeting relationship. Have worked with businesses for years.
  • 2025 Results
    • 663 small businesses served
    • Raised $7.5 million
    • 23 businesses started
    • Increased sales by $7.5 million
    • Created 93 jobs
  • Special programs
    • Access to specialized support from the broader region
  • Siskiyou FarmCo – Leah Groves
    • Connect, Innovate, Grow
    • Advising, Workshops & Training, e-Courses, Cohorts
    • 5 Marys Courses available through this program
    • Several businesses receiving $25,000 as a result of their participation
    • Outdoor Recreation Cohort active now.
      • 3 Trinity organizations participating (Ascend Wilderness, 2 Fishing Guides)
  • Upcoming Events
    • See photo
  • Trinity represents 10% of their client base
  • Nobody in Trinity took advantage of the marketing workshop held this year in Trinity
B. PUBLIC COMMENT
  • CAO Role – comments regarding transparency related to ongoing discussions related to the CAO role.
  • Cannabis Tax – would like to see this matter on a future agenda. Concerns that this tax is easy to avoid and penalizes those who play by the rules. Estimates the annual tax bill costs more than a full time employee.
  • Food Bank – comments following up on his previous request for county funding to support the food bank.
  • Cannabis Tax – encouraged the board to consider eliminating the cannabis tax as Humboldt County recently chose to do. Indicated that the tax reflected $2 of the $10 selling price of her product. Also encouraged a fee study on license renewals
  • Cannabis Tax – additional comments in support of eliminating/changing this tax.
  • Cannabis Tax – additional comments in support of eliminating/changing this tax.
  • Cannabis Tax – additional comments in support of eliminating/changing this tax. Noted that the wholesale market is dramatically down this year.
  • Economic Development – shared that he used to be involved in economic development in Trinity County. Suggested that the county ask the Forest Service to turn the camp sites over to the county to manage. Suggested that organizations like the RCD could play a role. Noted closed sites, faded signs, etc.
  • CAO Appointment – shared his view that filling this role should, by law, have greater transparency. Feels that the public should be able to observe and comment regarding candidate interviews.

 

C. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

C.1. Report from Department Heads

  • None. Written reports are available online.

C.2. Report from County Administrative Officer

  • County Emergency Communications – small team meeting next week to work on plans to address ongoing concerns.
  • COA Appointment – notified the board on 11.5 that he will not renew his contract when it ends in April of 2026. Clarified that this is an at-will position, not an elected position. Appointments for elected positions do require public interviews. Appointments for at-will positions do not require public interviews. No brown act violations have occurred.

C.3. Reports from Members of the Board of Supervisors

  • District 1 | Ric Leutwyler
    • Redwood Region Economic Summit – Lakeport, CA. Speakers included Senator McGuire, Senior VP of Visit California, Dr. Robert Eyler, and more. I hosted a panel focused on Canna Tourism, something that was mentioned by several other speakers.
    • Trinity Trails Survey – we launched the survey that will help us determine the current and future economic impact of our amazing trails system. The primary focus is on mountain biking, but the survey allows us to capture information regarding all uses of our trails. Questions were also added to evaluate the past and potential impact of canna tourism related to use of our trails.
    • Tourism Funding – scheduling conflicts prevented the ad hoc committee from gathering additional information needed to formalize recommendations. We will schedule meetings with applicants over the next 2-3 weeks and prepare recommendations for the December board meeting. Today’s presentation from Two Six Digital will also inform our recommendations. Many thanks to the Trinity Chamber team for sharing a robust presentation regarding the work they have done in developing and implementing tourism-focused marketing for Trinity County.
    • Lewiston Architecture Review Committee – we continue
    • Cannabis Tax – suggest evaluation, possibly an ad hoc.
    • CSAC Annual Conference – takes place in the Bay Area in December
  • District 2 | Jill Cox
    • RCRC | Broadband Funding – the Trinity County application was not selected.
    • Fire Chiefs – appointed representatives to the Subdivision Committee
    • Collaborative – met last Friday.
    • TPUD – participated in monthly board meeting.
    • Hmong 50th Anniversary Celebration – shared additional information about the event and this community
    • Clerk of the Board recognition – shared appreciation for
    • County Website – encouraged the public to visit and review reports
  • District 3 | Liam Gogan
    • Children’s Services – ongoing work to ensure that services are being delivered appropriately.
    • Dolly Parton Book Foundation – passed 1,000 books. Working to ensure that all books are delivered as intended.
    • Homeless Encampments – encouraged ongoing support
    • Hmong 50th Anniversary Celebration – great attendance.
  • District 4 | Heidi Carpenter-Harris
    • Air Quality Board
    • Federal Budget – acknowledged the impact of the shut down, and appreciation for action taken to reopen
    • NACO – seeking changes to allocation of road-related funds that could help rural counties like Trinity.
      • Fix our Forest initiative is still active
  • District 5 | Julia Brownfield
    • Hmong 50th Anniversary Celebration
    • Food Bank – working with her community to provide support.
    • Town Hall Meetings – starting these again. January is the next meeting.
    • Post Mountain PUD – participated in their meeting. This group is moving forward.

Cannabis Tax Ad Hoc

  • Liam Gogan & Ric Leutwyler were appointed to this new ad hoc committee, commissioned to gather input to be shared with the board during a January meeting.
  • Staff will present an analysis of the tax program – providing insight regarding the impact of potential changes.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
  • The board approved all items as presented.
E. PUBLIC HEARING

E.1. County Administrative Office – Conduct a public hearing to consider introducing and waiving the reading of an ordinance amending Trinity County Code Section 2.64.050 updating various county fees. Potential increase in revenues in an unknown amount to various county departments.

  • CAO Trent Tuthill & Suzie Hawkins
  • Craig Goodman has been working with department heads to prepare the data and recommendations presented today.
  • Plan to review half of county fees each year – meaning all fees are reviewed every other year. The other half of fees were considered by the board two years ago.
  • Moving forward, we will be using more current data which will minimize situations in which we are losing money on services due to use of out-of-date data.
  • Subsidized Fees – the county has been subsidizing the costs of delivering services while fees were lower than the costs of delivering services. For the planning division alone, this was over $800,000 last year.

Public Comment

  • Cannabis Fee Study – pleased to see progress. Concern raised that changes to renewal fees have not been reflected. Emphasized the importance of ensuring that fees are being used for costs directly associated with the program. Raised questions about intra-fund transfers.
  • General comments regarding the process and recognition of the progress being made. Mentioned animal control services.
  • Cannabis Fee Study – pleased with progress. Stated that renewal fees are the priority for this  industry. Also suggests looking for ways to streamline the renewal process to lower ongoing costs and program bureaucracy. Noted that the county can relate on state-provided processes.

Board Discussion

  • Cannabis Renewal Fees – discussed bringing this forward as soon as practical. Also researching ways in which the process can be streamlined. Both of these can be done prior to the regularly scheduled review – two years from now.
  • Housing – our plan references providing incentives. Shared that we will be in a better position to do so when the general fund is no longer having to subsidize regular delivery of services.
  • Benchmarking – discussed ways in which we will ensure that we maintain accountability for efficiency.
  • Transparency – staff will provide estimates, updates, and breakdowns

The board approved the new fees as presented.

F. COUNTY MATTERS

F.1. Community Development – Planning – Introduce and waive the reading of an ordinance amending Title 17 of Trinity County Code modifying various subsections to be compliant with the County’s certified Housing Element and state housing laws. Unknown fiscal impact.

  • Angel Chappell | Assistant Planner
  • Presented information regarding the materials included with the agenda
  • This will require a second reading.
  • Ideal timing is to submit to the state in January.
  • The board approved this item as presented.

F.2. Human Resources – Appoint Madelyn Woodman as the Clerk/Recorder/Assessor/Registrar of Voters effective January 1, 2026 to serve the remainder of the term expiring at the end of December 2026. Approximate cost in salary and benefits per month for the Clerk/Recorder/Assessor/Registrar of Voters at A step is $16,702.

  • Laila Cassis | Director of Human Resources – presented this matter
  • The board approved this matter as presented

Prior Closed Session – direction was provided to staff on items handled in previous closed sessions.

G. CLOSED SESSION

G.1. Government Code Section 54954.5(f) – Labor Negotiations County’s Designated Representatives: Suzie Hawkins, Laila Cassis and Margaret Long Employee Organizations: Skilled Trades Unit, General Unit and Management Unit

ADJOURN

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