Board of Supervisors Meeting | 4.15.2025

by | Apr 23, 2025 | Economic Development, Get Involved, Stay Informed, Trinity Resources, Your Opinion Matters

Sharing Information  |  Encouraging Engagement

This board meeting included two presentations. Michael Singleton | Trinity County Chief Information Officer was recognized for his years of service to Trinity County as he approaches retirement. Doug McAllister | VP External Affairs for Frontier Communications – shared a presentation regarding plans to bring broadband services to the Weaverville area, replacing copper lines with fiber optic lines.

The board approved all items on the Consent Calendar and all items under County Matters.

A. PRESENTATIONS

A.1. Human Resources – Adopt a proclamation recognizing the Chief Information Officer Michael Singleton upon his retirement from Trinity County. No fiscal impact.

  • This proclamation was approved by the board, and a framed copy was presented to Michael Singleton.

A.2. Clerk of the Board – Receive a presentation from Frontier Communications regarding a project of interest to the Weaverville area. No fiscal impact.

  • Doug McAllister | VP External Affairs for Frontier Communications
  • Presented materials included in the agenda packet, highlighting Frontier Communications
  • Offered his support in handling any concerns or questions that the board and staff encounter related to Frontier Communications services in Trinity County.
  • Fiber service offerings range from 200 MB at $39.99 per month to 7 GB at $299.99 per month
  • Shared a map that reflects their planned service coverage with fiber for 2025. This reflects approximately 1,600 homes in and around Weaverville.
  • Expect to begin in May, with customers beginning to have access in August.
  • Initial plans are for 80% to 90% of service delivery to be aerial, meaning they will not have to do a lot of digging to bring service to customers.
  • Anticipate a combination of local and outside-County workers will be involved in the project.
  • Commercial vs Residential – residential is the priority since businesses require some special handling
  • Emergency Service Communication – already working with county staff regarding services and pricing.
  • Partnerships – no plans for partnerships with other service providers
  • Redundancy – uncertain regarding the level of redundancy for the service coming into the county.
B. PUBLIC COMMENT
  • Cannabis program input regarding overlays. Suggested that future efforts anticipate overlays that reflect an opt-in approach. This would mean that the restrictions that apply regarding commercial cannabis licenses (CCL) within these overlays might be different, likely lessening restrictions.
  • Post Mountain Community input – additional support offered for the overlay approach described by the previous speaker.
  • Post Mountain Community input – concern that the 350’ setback required for CCL won’t work well in Post Mountain, where parcel sizes are small and many residents support CCL activities. Also requested more clarity regarding definitions related to these setbacks. Asked for more help with road maintenance and repair, and offered appreciation for snow removal this past Winter.
  • Commercial Cannabis – encourage the board to support CCL growth within Post Mountain and throughout Trinity County.
  • Update Requests – requested updates from the county regarding potential tax initiatives, the budget process for next year, and potential implications to Trinity County of federal funding decisions.
  • Commercial Cannabis – offered support for reconsideration of language related to setbacks/buffer zones. Echoed previous comments regarding the potential impact on smaller parcels in Post Mountain.
C. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

C.1. Report from Department Heads

  • Ed Prestley | Community Development & Planning
    • Personnel Retention – shared concerns regarding the level of pressure that is leading to resignations. Bella Hedtke, senior planner for Trinity County, submitted her resignation today.

C.2. Report from County Administrative Officer

  • Emergency Communications – meeting on April 24th regarding one potential solution. Another solution is being pursued by the Sheriff.
  • Secure Rural Schools Funding (SRS) – still an open issue. We are now making plans based on the assumption that we will not receive these funds during this fiscal year.
  • CIO/IT Director – have six strong applicants for the vacancy created by Michael Singleton’s retirement.
  • Ready Trinity – meetings continue on the replacement of CodeRed in the coming months.
  • Dam Operations & Maintenance – met with BOR representatives regarding operations, maintenance, safety, emergency response, etc.
  • Liz Hamilton’s appointment was approved by DHS.

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

  • District 1 | Ric Leutwyler
    • Economic Development Summit – preparing for the Fall Summit in Lake County.
    • New Restaurant in Lewiston – attended Aqua Cafés soft opening on April 4th
    • Coffee Creek Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser – attended fundraiser on April 5th
    • SCED Strategic Planning Committee – facilitated planning session on April 7th. Ready for full board review and adoption.
    • Tourism Development Advisory Board – met on April 7th to continue work on the process. Confirmed that we will launch a new nonprofit to support the receipt and allocation of funds.
      • The board discussed the possibility of authorizing additional funding to support the expansion of the initiative.
    • BOR Tour of Trinity and Lewiston Dams – joined CAO Tuthill and staff responsible for emergency services for a tour of both facilities. It was encouraging to learn more about the frequency and quality of inspections and to see the high level of collaboration between those responsible for the dams and our OES staff. More to come as we transition to our new alert system in the coming months.
    • Assemblymember Chris Rogers – TCDC meeting with him after the public meeting this afternoon.
    • NoRTEC Executive Committee Meeting – hosting this meeting on April 17th.
    • Rape Prevention & Education Coalition Meeting – participating in this meeting on April 16th.
  • District 2 | Jill Cox
    • Fire Chiefs Association
      • 2 2-hour program for high school youth to talk about educational opportunities that would help them prepare for first responder roles.
      • Burn Piles – currently expect that we will be able to continue burn piles through May.
  • District 3 | Liam Gogan
    • Shared his appreciation for living in our beautiful county and for the opportunity
  • District 4 | Heidi Carpenter-Harris
    • Fundraising – participated in recent event focused on scholarships
    • Rural Action Caucus (NACO) – attended this meeting. Strong focus on SRS
    • Public Lands Caucus (NACO) – attended this meeting. Focus on updates to the Endangered Species Act and work related to wildfire impact.
    • Northwest RC&D – now the chair of this organization.
    • PATH – attended recent meeting
  • District 5 | Julia Brownfield
    • Post Mountain PUD – attended meetings. Feels this is going well.
    • Town Hall Meetings continue
    • Roads Tour – joined Panos Kokkas and CAO Tuthill for a tour of roads in the South County area. Understands that funding is a challenge and will work on alternative funding sources.
    • New Business– acknowledged the Yantra’s soft opening planned here in Weaverville.
    • Zoning – working with residents to ensure that their parcels are zoned appropriately.
    • Solid Waste – working on ways to enhance services in District 5

C.4. Reports from Ad Hocs

• Homeless Encampment

  • April 10th Meeting – good participation.
  • CalFire crews continue to work on fuel management
  • Another encampment site was visited
  • The Public Information Officer (PIO) is working to share information
  • Draft Ordinance – work continues
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
  • Staff clarified information regarding the financial aspect of item D.1 Agriculture.
  • Item D.28 was pulled for discussion.
  • The board approved all items (other than D.28) on the Consent Calendar

 

  • D.28. Treasurer/Tax Collector – Authorize the Chairman to sign a letter of support regarding SB 346 – Local agencies: transient occupancy taxes: short-term rental facilitator. Increase in General Fund appropriations if SB 346 passes
    • Terri McBrayer provided information and an update
      • The new system we are using to audit vacation rentals has already identified 60 businesses in Trinity County that were not registered with the county. Follow-up letters have already generated new registrations
    • The board approved this matter as presented.
E. COUNTY MATTERS

E.1. Community Development – Natural Resources – Approve a budget adjustment for FY 24/25 for Natural Resources – Dept 2700 increasing Transfers In by $82,200 and decreasing Revenues by $167,437 and Salaries & Benefits by $53,648; and approve a budget adjustment for FY 24/25 for General Fund Contingency – Dept 9901 decreasing Appropriations for Contingency by $82,200. Increase in General Fund appropriations in the amount of $82,200; current balance in General Fund Contingency is $490,122.

  • Ed Prestley | Community Development
    • Explained this matter and clarified that the $82,200 represents the cost incurred by the county this year. Funds are being reallocated to cover the loss of revenue previously anticipated from work done through partnerships.
    • The board approved this matter with an amendment to clarify how the funds were being transferred between accounts.
    • The board directed staff to schedule a presentation on the Natural Resources Division, focusing on the anticipated financial impact.

 

E.2. Community Development – Cannabis – Discuss and/or take one of the following actions regarding amending Trinity County Code Section 17.43 pertaining to Commercial Cannabis Regulations and Section 17.32 pertaining to Use Permits:

A. Waive the reading of and enact an ordinance amending Trinity County Code Section 17.43 and Section 17.32 as introduced on April 1, 2025; or

B. Introduce and waive the reading of an ordinance amending Trinity County Code Section 17.43 and Section 17.32 as revised after the April 1, 2025, meeting. Unknown fiscal impact.

  • Drew Plebani | Cannabis Division Director
    • Introduced this matter and explained the reason for the new language presented as option B.
  • Public Comment
    • Concern regarding the manner in which the last board meeting was handled, with significant changes being made without sufficient input and notice. Offered support for the staff recommendation. Shared that she feels Supervisors should not lead changes in discussions that primarily impact other districts.
    • Support was offered for the staff recommendation.
    • Support was offered for the staff recommendation. Believes that fee-payer input should be prioritized when considering changes to programs like this.
    • Support was offered for the staff recommendation.
    • Support was offered for the staff recommendation.
    • Support was offered for the staff recommendation.
  • The board approved the staff recommendation – Option B.
F. CLOSED SESSION

Public Comment

  • Reminder that the Grand Jury previously shared concerns about over/misuse of closed session

 

F.1. Government Code Section 54954.5(c) – Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation No. of Cases: Two

National Prescription Opiate Litigation (Case No. 1:18-op-450901);

Lewandowski v. County of Trinity, et al. (US District Court Case No. 2:24- CV-01697-JAM-JDP)

F.2. Government Code Section 54954.5(e) – Public Employee Evaluation: County Administrative Officer

ADJOURN

 

Sharing Information  |  Encouraging Engagement

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