Board of Supervisors Meeting | 6.18.2024

by | Jun 24, 2024 | Economic Development, Get Involved, Stay Informed, Your Opinion Matters

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This meeting included two presentations – one from our Office of Emergency Services regarding wildfire preparations, the other from a U.S. Forest Service representative, and the other from the Sheriff’s Department regarding the Animal Shelter & Animal Rescue services. The agenda included a number of budget-related decisions and two Human Resources policies. This was a relatively short meeting that wrapped up prior to noon.

PRESENTATIONS

Health and Human Services – Office of Emergency Services – Receive a presentation from Emergency Operations Manager Philip Simi regarding wildfire preparedness. No fiscal impact.

  • Shared information regarding efforts on behalf of the county to prepare for wildfire season.
  • Presentation materials include list of resources and links to additional information.
    • Code Red https://public.coderedweb.com
    • Trinity County Zone Map – https://www.arcgis.com
    • Watch Duty App – Available at your app store
    • Trinity County Office of Emergency Services – 530-623-1116 | oes@trinitycounty.org
      • Follow OES on Facebook
    • Local Volunteer Fire Departments have fliers with information on zones, evacuation routes, etc.
    • Make an Emergency Plan, Strengthen your home, Gather supplies – https://www.ready.gov
    • Be Red Cross Ready – Download the Wildfire Safety Checklist – https://www.redcross.org
    • Get your File of Life

Clerk of the Board – Receive a presentation from Humboldt Skatepark Collective regarding a skate park project in Weaverville (Lowden Park). No fiscal impact.

  • Jerry Taggert
    • Charlie Caldwell – Humboldt Skatepark Collective is key contact
      • Supported similar efforts in many other communities
    • Desire is to build upon previous efforts to build a skatepark in Weaverville.
    • Noted that skateboarding is safer than many other common activities
    • Open to suggestions regarding organizing people interested in this initiative
    • Proposed location is between the softball field and Washington Street
    • Estimated costs of $150,000 to $300,000
    • Trinity_Skatepark_Project

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

  • Comments offered in support of the skatepark project
  • Additional comments in support of the skatepark project. Currently drives kids to Redding for skateboarding activities.

REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Report from Department Heads

  • Liz Hamilton – New Deputy Director – Arina Erwin
Report from County Administrative Officer
  • Trindel Board of Directors – meeting last week with full 12 member board. Great opportunity for interaction with peers regarding issues, solutions, opportunities.
    • Liability in Jails – this is a hot topic for the group. New training will be available soon.
  • WinAct – quarterly meeting on June 11th. Progress continues with anticipation of two separate tracks. One track will focus on Central Valley Project. Public meetings will be held soon. The other track will focus on the Trinity River Division element. Estimated completion is the end of 2025.
  • State Budget – expect more clarity on June 27th. Anticipating impact on programs managed by the county.
  • County Employee Appreciation Picnic – most offices closed to allow participation. Thursday, 12 to 2
Reports from Members of the Board of Supervisors
  • District 1 | Ric Leutwyler
    • CA Jobs First – finalized the rubric for selecting projects for funding. Estimating funding decisions to be made in August.
    • U.S. Forest Service Partners BBQ – large turnout and great examples of how partnerships are paying off for Trinity County.
    • PSA2 – Met yesterday. Advisory Committee Annual Report noted that 188 cases of Elder abuse were confirmed in Trinity County in 2023. CA has the highest numbers of confirmed cases of elder abuse in the country… with the next state reporting 30% fewer cases.
    • AT&T COLR – Supervisor Cox and I were contacted regarding a proposal by AT&T to have limited relief of COLR responsibilities. Both CSAC and RCRC oppose this proposal. Authorization for the chair to sign a letter of opposition was put on the agenda at Supervisor Cox’s request.
    • Insurance Matters – On June 13, 2024 — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara released further details of his transformative plan to increase the writing of homeowners and commercial insurance policies in areas of the state with high wildfire risk. Commissioner Lara announced regulatory text outlining the commitments that insurance companies must make in order to use forward-looking catastrophe models for ratemaking and encouraged the public to learn more at the Department’s June 26 public workshop. A new map identifies Trinity County as one of the counties in CA where there is a concentration of FAIR Plan policies
  • District 2 | Jill Cox
    • PSA2 Joint Board Meeting. Dignity Health in need of a hub location in Trinity County for delivery/distribution of meals.
    • Butte County – joint meeting with our CAO and theirs – met recently regarding collaboration.
    • Fire Chief’s Meeting – missed the last meeting due to conflict
    • Senate – opportunity speak in front of a subcommittee.
  • District 3 | Liam Gogan
    • No out of county travel
    • TMC meeting several weeks ago. Variable flows still being discussed.
  • District 4 | Heidi Carpenter-Harris
    • Apologies for tardiness – extenuating circumstances delayed her arrival
    • No out of county travel
    • North Coast Resource Partnership – was unable to attend. Did work through materials
  • District 5 | Dan Frasier
    • Colusa – meeting on the 5th. Should determine how we will move forward so that we have continuity when Supervisor Frasier leaves office. Requests that this be put on the next agenda. This group meets six meetings per year. Next meeting in Weaverville – July 24th. This often conflicts with TMC meetings.

Reports from Ad Hocs

1. Tribal Relations

  • Working with local tribes to build relationships and support their efforts for federal recognition, concerns about use of trails that could impact significant archeological sites.

CONSENT CALENDAR

  • The board approved all items as presented.

 

COUNTY MATTERS

E.1. County Administrative Office – Adopt a resolution which adopts a preliminary budget for FY 24/25. $64,886,854

  • Trent Tuthill | CAO
    • Different approach this year. Rather than putting forward full budget requests, the board was presented with a proposal for funding 40% of current year’s budget (includes funding for some upfront spending – including capital items that are time-sensitive. This will cover operations until we have an opportunity to fine-tune the budget for review/approval by the board in September.
    • $8 million dollar variance between budget requests and anticipated revenues.
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

E.2. Clerk-Recorder/Assessor/ Elections – Approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for Assessor – Dept. 1400 increasing Intra-fund Expenses by $56,629; and approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for General Fund Contingency – Dept. 9901 decreasing Appropriations for Contingency by $56,629. Increase in General Fund appropriations in the amount of $56,579; the current balance in General Fund Contingency is $214,618.

  • Shanna White
    • Litigation costs are exceeding budget.
    • The board approved this matter as presented.

E.3. Human Resources – Adopt a Policy regarding Animals in the Workplace. No fiscal impact.

  • Laila Cassis | Director of Human Resources
    • Incorporating state and federal laws. Acknowledges the potential impact on people who suffer from allergies, etc.
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

E.4. Human Resources – Adopt an HR policy creating a Tuition Reimbursement program. Fiscal impact dependent upon tuition reimbursement usage.

  • Laila Cassis | Director of Human Resources
    • Introduces a program that will reimburse up to $2,000 per year.
    • Reimbursement only available for courses related to the individuals current work and/or career path.
  • The board approved this matter as presented

E.5. Human Resources – Modify Health and Human Services allocation List to combine the nine (9) flexibly staffed allocations for staff services Analyst I/II/III with the five (5) flexibly staffed allocations for Supervising Staff Services. Analyst and Staff Services Manager to have fourteen (14) allocations to be flexibly staffed with Staff Services Analyst I/II/III, Supervising staff analyst and Staff Services Manager. No fiscal impact.

  • Laila Cassis | Director of Human Resources
    • No changes in pay rates or titles. Just combining to provide more flexibility to use available funds to meeting current/changing staffing needs.
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

E.6. Trinity County Transportation Commission – Adopt a resolution that finds there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet in Trinity County. No fiscal impact.

  • Sarah Saad | Transportation Planner II
    • Annual requirement to revisit unmet transit needs. This involves public outreach and working with related groups.
    • Comments received did not meet the definition of “unmet transit needs.” They were all related to dial-a-ride services. County staff is available to help (with grant writing, etc.) senior centers in the county who provide these services.
    • Trinity Transit drivers are allowed to vary route by 3/4 mile to accommodate needs of riders.
    • Trinity Transit support of additional transit needs was deemed “not reasonable to meet.” This was primarily based on the “cost effectiveness” associated with adding this para-transit services.
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

E.7. Trinity County Transportation Commission – Approve an agreement with the Human Response Network to administer the Transportation Assistance Program for Trinity County residents needing transportation assistance. No impact to the General Fund, $80,000 of Local Transportation Funds.

  • Sarah Sadd | Transportation Planner II
    • Appreciation offered to HRN leadership for their strong collaboration and excellent service to Trinity County residents.
    • Acknowledged that this is a widely used service – especially for medical needs.
    • This is a service that addresses needs that would otherwise be considered “unmet transit needs.”
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

Closed Session Report Out

F.1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (§ 54956.9) Case No 3:24-cv-02211 S.L. v. Trinity County.

  • Direction to staff.

F.2. Government Code Section 54954.5(c) – Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation No of Cases: One: NEPA

  • Direction to staff.

Urgency Item

  • Motion made to add an urgency item on the agenda as we became aware of the need for action after the agenda was published and we do not have another board meet scheduled prior to the deadline for submission of feedback regarding AB2797.
    • The board approved adding this item to the agenda.
  • Letter of opposition to AB2797 related to AT&T’s responsibilities as Carrier of Last Resort (COLR).
    • Jill Cox | Supervisor
      • Read the letter of opposition
    • The board approved this matter as presented.

CLOSED SESSION

F.1. Government Code Section 54954.5(c) – Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation No. of Cases: 1 Cardona v County of Trinity, et al (Trinity County Superior Court Case No. 23CV027)

  • Direction to staff.

F.2. Government Code Section 54954.5(f) – Labor Negotiations County’s Designated Representatives: Margaret Long, Laila Cassis and Suzie Hawkins Employee Organizations: General Unit

  • No action taken.

F.3. Government Code Section 54954.5(e) – Public Employee Evaluation: County Counsel.

  • Evaluation Held

 

ADJOURN

 

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