Board of Supervisors Meeting | 6.17.2025

by | Jun 18, 2025 | Get Involved, Stay Informed, Your Opinion Matters

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This board meeting included one presentation. Graham Knaus, CEO of CSAC (California State Association of Counties), presented leadership training certificates to two members of Trinity County staff and (later) provided a CSAC update to the board. Due to delays in starting the official Board of Supervisors meeting, the presentation of certificates took place before the official meeting began at 10:00 AM. Staff recorded the first presentation separately from the full board meeting recording.

The board pulled one item from the Consent Calendar for discussion. All items on the Consent Calendar were approved. A Public Hearing was conducted regarding Unmet Transportation Needs, and then the Supervisors approved all items under County Matters. There were two items on the Closed Session agenda.

An interim budget must be approved before the end of the month. The initial review of budget submissions indicates a $3 million gap to be filled. While this is a significant number and some tough decisions lie ahead, it represents a much better starting point than last year. The board approved the preliminary budget.

A. PRESENTATIONS 

A.1. County Administrative Office – California State Association of Counties (CSAC) CEO, Graham Knaus, present the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government Executive Credentials to two Trinity County staff members who recently completed the leadership program and provide a CSAC update. No fiscal impact.

  • CSAC is the national standard for organizations supporting/representing counties
  • Presented leadership certificates to Buck Simmons, and Ivana Thomas for completion of CSAC Leadership Training
  • CSAC Update
    • 2nd oldest county association in the country (Pennsylvania – first)
    • Ensures every county’s voice in CA is heard
    • Executive Committee tilts Urban
    • Board tilts Rural
    • Recognized Supervisors Carpenter-Harris & Leutwyler for their roles on CSAC Committees
    • 501c3 Foundation Arm
      • Grants, Policies, etc.
    • Business Arm
      • Business Partnerships to provide counties enhanced support
      • Real Estate example provided as an example
    • Core role is advocacy on behalf of counties
      • Acknowledged the unique needs of each county
    • State Legislature Update
      • Senate & Assembly reached agreement on proposal to go to the Governor. Have until June 30th to finalize/reach agreement.
      • CSAC Priorities
        • Proposition 36 – additional funding is needed to carryout the mandates.
        • Homelessness – ensure funding to counties is flexible and sustained.
        • Disaster Related Policy – comprehensive proposal
          • Includes streamlining and/or automatic removal of state approvals currently required for communities to move forward after a disaster.
          • FEMA Lost Housing Threshold – currently set as a number, not a percentage. Recommended either as a trigger since the loss of X number of homes in a lower population county has a bigger impact than in much higher populated counties.
        • Communication & Engagement – focus on ensuring all county voices are heard.
          • Speakers Bureau provides the opportunity for county representatives to speak to media/legislators when opportunities arise.
        • Broadband – another area of focus. Noted that importance of leveraging common interests with urban counties (where legislative votes
      • Insurance – Supervisor Carpenter-Harris emphasized the importance of Home Owners Insurance and asked for a CSAC Update.
        • Ongoing meetings with Insurance Commissioner, legislators, other state leaders, etc… to work toward solutions.
        • Noted that hurricane-impacted states are leading the way on finding solutions. Florida’s version of our Fair Plan is much more expensive, and more robust.
      • Carrier of Last Resort (COLR)
        • Working with RCRC in opposition to legislation that would remove COLR responsibility without first providing guarantees/plans for alternative solutions.
        • The bill is currently stuck in the Assembly.

 

B. PUBLIC COMMENT
  • None
C. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

C.1. Report from Department Heads

  • None. Reports are available online

C.2. Report from County Administrative Officer

  • Quality of Service Recognition – Clerk Recorder/Assessor Office received another completed form regarding great service from a member of the public.
  • Employee Recognition Picnic – takes place tomorrow
  • Jail Medical Services Working Group – attended a recent RCRC-hosted regional meeting. Very few counties handle services “in house” as we do. Participants discuss other options. RCRC was asked to draft an RFP regarding new methodologies.
  • Emergency Operation Center – recent meetings to ensure we are ready for wildfire season
  • Community Plan & General Plan – joint session of the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors last week.
  • Zoning Code – Planning Commission met on this last week.

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

  • District 1 | Ric Leutwyler
    • Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board Meeting – 6.3-4.2025 in Modoc County
    • CA Jobs First Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Meeting – 6.6.2025
    • NoRTEC Special Executive Committee Meeting – Virtual – 6.9.2025
    • General Plan & Community Plan Joint Sessions – 6.10-11.2025
    • Civitas Meeting regarding Tourism Investment District – 6.12.2025
    • PSA2 Board & Advisory Council Collaborative Meeting – 6.16.2025
  • District 2 | Jill Cox
    • No out of county travel
    • NorCal EMS JPA – participated in recent meeting and recognized strong contributions by leaders who are moving this forward.
    • Fire Chiefs Meeting – cancelled due to lighting strikes
    • Weaverville Volunteer Fire Department Recognition Event – participated and honored these volunteers
    • PSA2 – absent due to personal emergency. Provided recognition certificates that were presented to each volunteer. “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill
    • BOS Chair Survey – mentioned this process that was introduced last year
      • Board direction for staff to move forward with this process for 2025
    • Elections – shared concern regarding the importance of polling places vs only ballot boxes.
      • Board direction for staff to put this matter on a future agenda.
  • District 3 | Liam Gogan
    • Absent
  • District 4 | Heidi Carpenter-Harris
    • Joint Session – General Plan & Community Plans
    • NACO Rural Caucus Meeting – conflict with Joint Session
    • No out of county travel
    • Expense Reports – raised concerns regarding requirements for original receipts.
      • Board direction to staff
  • District 5 | Julia Brownfield
    • Absent

C.4. Reports from Ad Hocs – • Homeless Encampment

  • June 23rd, next site visit. Focus is on making individuals aware of available services and to facilitate their participation if interested.
  • New ordinance is on the agenda
  • June 23rd, next Ad Hoc meeting (after site visit).
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
  • Item D7 Pulled for discussion
  • The board approved all other items on the agenda.

D.7. Board of Supervisors – Authorize the Chairman to sign a letter to Senator Wiener and Assemblymember Gabriel supporting the Wildfire County Coordinators Program. No fiscal impact.

  • Supervisor Cox – shared the need for a small amendment to the letter.
  • Public Comment – None
  • The board approved this matter as amendment
E. PUBLIC HEARING

E.1. Trinity County Transportation Commission – Conduct a public hearing to receive comments on Unmet Transit Needs as required by the Transportation Development Act. No fiscal impact.

  • Sarah Saad | Transportation Department presented this matter
  • Document is required by State Law.
  • This will be presented to the board for approval at a subsequent meeting.
  • Extensive public outreach to take place regarding potential enhanced transit services
  • This is another opportunity for the public to share input.
  • Public Comment – none
F. COUNTY MATTERS

F.1. Community Development – Building – Waive the reading of and enact an ordinance establishing Trinity County Code Section 15.27 pertaining to Movable Tiny Homes, introduced June 3rd, 2025. Unknown fiscal impact.

  • Cody Smith | Building Division Director
  • Second reading of this new ordinance.
  • Reported strong public interest after this was introduced.
  • Public Comment – none
  • The board approved this matter as presented

F.2. County Administrative Office – Waive the reading of and enact an ordinance establishing Trinity County Code Section 8.41 pertaining to Encampments on Public Property, introduced June 3, 2025. Unknown fiscal impact.

  • CAO Trent Tuthill
  • Second reading of this new ordinance
  • Public Comment – none
  • Supervisor Leutwyler shared concerns raised by individuals who observed the first reading/discussion regarding this ordinance. He also noted that these concerns were shared (prior to the meeting) with CAO Tuthill who explained how these concerns are addressed by the holistic approach being taken by staff as a whole.
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

F.3. Board of Supervisors – Receive a status update on the Tourism Development Advisory Board actions and plans. No fiscal impact.

  • Supervisor Leutwyler presented an update
    • Civitas Advisors is on “pause” to save money while the advisory board continues polling.
    • The advisory board will continue to poll lodging business owners
    • We have all the documentation needed to implement the program if sufficient support is provided by lodging business owners.
    • If lodging business owners choose not to support this initiative then the recommendation is to support a TOT increase for which funding would be directed to the General Fund.
  • Public Comment – none

F.4. County Administrative Office – Adopt a resolution which adopts a preliminary budget for FY 25/26. $66,121,946.

  • CAO Trent Tuthill
  • This is the same approach as last year – statutory requirement to approve a preliminary budget by June 30. This provides authorization of approximately 40% of full year budget to support operations until the final budget is approved
  • $3 million – this is the gap between anticipated revenues and requested funding.
    • This is a smaller gap than last year – in part due to actions taken by the board and staff during this current fiscal year.
  • Departmental Budget Reviews begin in July.
  • Requested funding does not support the level of service staff would like to provide. Rather, it establishes a baseline that staff feels is appropriate based on available funds.
  • September is the projected timeframe for budget hearings.
  • Public Comment – none
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

PRIOR CLOSED SESSION REPORT

E.1. Government Code Section 54954.5(f) – Labor Negotiations County’s Designated Representatives: Laila Cassis and Elizabeth Hamilton Employee Organizations: IHSS. Direction to Staff

E.2. Government Code Section 54956.95 – Liability Claim Claimant: Seth Ruiz (Claim No. TIBY-600219) Continued

G. CLOSED SESSION

G.1. Government Code Section 54954.5(e) – Public Employee Evaluation – County Counsel – Continued

G.2. Government Code Section 54956.95 – Liability Claim Claimant: Seth Ruiz (Claim No. TIBY-600219) – Direction to staff

ADJOURN

 

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