Board of Supervisors Meeting | 9.16.2025

by | Oct 10, 2025 | Economic Development, Get Involved, Stay Informed, Trinity Resources, Your Opinion Matters

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This board meeting included two presentations and updates from our CAO and Supervisors. The agenda included fourteen items on the Consent Calendar, one item under County Matters, and two under Closed Session.

The Board acknowledged the upcoming Candelight Walk, which will raise awareness of Domestic Violence, and received an update from the Redwood Coast Connect Broadband Consortium team on the USDA Rural Broadband Technical Assistance Grant.

A. PRESENTATIONS

A.1. Clerk of the Board – Adopt a proclamation supporting Human Response Network’s Candlelight Walk bringing Domestic Violence Awareness. No fiscal impact.

  • HRN Representative 
    • 183 people reached out to HRN last year regarding domestic violence
    • Appreciation was offered for participation last year by Supervisor Cox.
    • All Supervisors are invited to participate this year.
  • The board approved and presented this resolution

A.2. County Administrative Office – Receive a presentation and update from the Redwood Coast Connect Broadband Consortium team on the USDA Rural Broadband Technical Assistance Grant. No fiscal impact.

  • Redwood Coast Connect Broadband Consortium Representatives
    • Appreciation offered for patience as the “middle mile” work was done along 299
    • Brightscape Networks- nonprofit organization established to support initiatives like these. Decades of experience in broadband deployment and planning.
      • Brian Court | Brightscape | brian.court@goldenstatenet.org
      • Susan Bolton | Brightscape | susan.bolton@goldenstatenet.org
      • Conn ie Steward | Cal Poly Humboldt | ces54@humboldt.edu
    • $1,000,000 over two years to provide needs assessments, broadband strategies, and grant support for 23 communities in Humboldt and Trinity County. Every eligible community is included.

• Burnt Ranch, Coffee Creek, Douglas City, Hayfork, Hyampom, Junction City, Lewiston, Mad River, Post Mountain (Hmong Translation Support Requested), Salyer, Trinity Center, Trinity Village

  • Community Needs Assessments | months 1 to 12 | Began in August
  • Broadband Expansion Strategies | months 1 to 6
  • Grant Application Support Packages | months 16 to 24
    • Grant package templates
    • Technical support for infrastructure grant applications
  • Includes identifying unique needs, challenges, partners, etc.
  • Can support economic development and improvements in emergency services
  • Four applications currently in front of the CA PUC for providing last mile service in Trinity County
  • Will work with communities to gather information that can be used in grant applications
  • Next Steps
    • Hire Community Connectivity Coordinator – will cover both counties.
      • 2 years full time
    • Work with County staff on data collection
    • Community meetings
  • Grant Applications
    • The packages will be created and available for modification to fit the individual communities.
    • These packages will be used by the providers who can then submit the application.
  • Community Leaders – we will need someone in each community to support the process.
  • This is a cooperative initiative with the USDA.
B. PUBLIC COMMENT
  • Transportation – comments regarding ways in which repairs can be done to roads in the Ruth/Zenia area. Questions raised regarding funding and the use of funds. Requested extension of public comments to 5 minutes to allow more time for subjects to be addressed.
  • Agenda – request for page numbers to be listed in … 9:20…. Cannabis applications ready for review. Other non-cultivation applications….. Over 30 more applications in progress. Call for streamlining of processes. Requested that code enforcement be moved back to the Sheriff’s Department. Asked that the issue of fines be brought before the board for public discussion. Asked for more information about the ongoing delays with bringing the cannabis-related appeal before the board.
  • Budget – concerns raised regarding increases reflected in the budget and decreases in other areas. Shared concerns that funding reductions in IT put the county at risk. Feels that the county is going in the wrong direction from a funding allocation perspective.
C. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

C.1. Report from Department Heads

  • Sheriff Saxon
    • Another deputy graduated from the Academy
    • Additional applications and candidates are in process
    • Direct Relief Grant – supported the acquisition of a new Search and Rescue Vehicle. This vehicle is almost ready for deployment.
    • Fires – strong coordination between all agencies involved in response.
    • Budget – appreciate additional funding to fully staff the jail and increase deputies for patrol. Noted that previous reliance on grant funding for staff resulted in mass layoffs.

C.2. Report from County Administrative Officer

  • Fees – shared dates of the meetings in which this was discussed
  • Appeal – notice for the public was sent to the paper on Friday. Scheduled for October 1.
  • Budget – Hearings scheduled for 9.23.2025. Time to review can be scheduled.
  • Community Development Director – the position is posted
  • County Building Official – Cody is leaving for another role – this role is being posted.
  • Hmong Translation – already in place for the Post Mountain Community Meeting
  • Employee of the Year – announced and will be formally recognized in an future board meeting

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

  • District 1 | Ric Leutwyler
    • NoRTEC – met in Redding to complete the process of hiring a new Executive Director. Wendy Zanotelli, currently Executive Director for The SMART Workforce Center will become the new NoRTEC Executive Director on October 1, 2025
    • Sierra Nevada Conservancy – the board meeting scheduled for September 3-4 was cancelled due to wildfire activity in the area.
    • TASA Fundraiser – $11,000 raised to support TASA programs, including the Trinity County Animal Shelter
    • Fire Chiefs Association – attended due to Supervisor Cox’s excused absence. The Chief’s unanimously voted to not endorse the proposed petition focused on a 1% increase to our sales tax – with 50% of the funds going to the Volunteer Fire Departments, 25% to the Animal Shelter, and 25% to the Library System.
    • CSAC Board Meeting – skipped the reception the night before and drove to/from Sacramento on 9.11.2025.
      • The board approved plans for the renovation of the CSAC HQ building. No increase in county/member costs are required to support this initiative.
      • Staff provided legislative updates. This legislative session was extended to Saturday. CSAC staff were actively involved in lobbying on behalf of counties – even during the meetings.
      • Special Election Funding – CSAC shared the timeline of their efforts to shift funding plans for this special election, resulting in advance funding which has already been received by our Trinity County elections office.
    • PSA2 (our area agency for aging) – Participated in the board meeting yesterday.
    • Community Plan Meetings
      • Attended the Lewiston meeting on Monday.
      • Was unable to attend the Weaverville meeting as it was held at the same time as Lewiston.
      • Will attend the Trinity Center meeting on Wednesday.
    • Lewiston Architectural Review Committee – I am still working to pull together the people needed to re-establish this committee. In the meantime, plans have been submitted and reviewed by our planning department that are on hold
  • District 2 | Jill Cox
    • Absent
  • District 3 | Liam Gogan
    • Community Plan Meetings
    • Fires – appreciation offered for the great response
  • District 4 | Heidi Carpenter-Harris
    • Trinity Native Wellness Coalition
    • North Coast Resource Partnership – Illegal Cannabis Cleanup Ad Hoc
      • Work continues by this group.
    • Trinity River Watershed Council Meeting
      • Some focus on Lamprey protections
      • Noted the importance of a holistic approach vs single-species
    • Budget
    • Community Plan Meetings
    • Community Support
      • Asked community members to report dumping, vehicle abandonment, etc.
      • Asked residents to hold payment for clean-up work until they see dump receipts
      • Asked for everyone to support open communication and work toward solutions
  • District 5 | Julia Brownfield
    • Post Mountain Community Plan Meeting today.
    • Fires – noted the quick and effective response.

 

D. CONSENT CALENDAR

Public Comment

  • Feels that some of the items on the consent calendar do not meet the criteria of being non-controversial. Asked for D.9, and D.10 to be pulled for discussion. Feels that license plate readers are not a good fit for Trinity County. Feels that body-cams would be of more value.
  • Additional request to pull D.9, and D.10. Also supports the body-cams recommendation. Asked for more clarification on D.12.
  • Clarification regarding the process for comments and requests for items to be pulled.

 

  • D.9 and D.10 were pulled for discussion
  • The board approved all other items on the Consent Calendar as presented.

D.9. County Administrative Office – Approve an agreement with Inseparable Solutions LLC to provide transitional planning and elections administration support. Up to $50,000 to the General Fund, potentially offset by state funds for elections. The budgeted amount is already included in the proposed FY25/26 budget.

  • CAO Tuthill
    • The current Registrar of Voters is returning in December
    • We will have little to no staff experience with elections upon this retirement
    • The company is new, the individual has extensive experience and comes with strong support from the state elections organization. She will not be making decisions on behalf of the County.
    • Timing is based on the upcoming special election and retirement.
    • The $205,000 we will receive from the State can be used to cover the costs of this contract.
  • Public Comment
    • Noted that the board has the authority to appoint this person
    • Concerns shared about the age of the company and the timing of the need for this support.
    • Shared concerns about the background of the individual.
    • Questions raised about the background. Asked if we did a background check.
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

 

D.10. Sheriff – Approve an agreement with Flock Group, INC. to provide Software and Hardware capable of capturing audio, video, image and recording data. No impact to the General Fund; up to $67,550 from grants provided to the Sheriff’s Office.

  • Sheriff Saxon
    • Noted the large footprint of Trinity County and the value of these cameras to supporting law enforcement.
    • Fully funded by grant funds – no General Funds
    • Cameras capture license plates, nor the interior of the vehicle – not people.
    • Access to the files require authority.
    • CHP does use similar devices around the State – they are focused on more highly populated areas.
    • Can support investigations and be of value to the detectives handling these investigations. Can also make the information directly available to other agencies – which does not put a burden on Trinity County staff.
    • The two year agreement covers all costs for this trial period.
    • Eight cameras will be on Highways 36 and 299
    • This will link us to other cameras in other jurisdictions.
    • Have attempted to obtain funds for body-cams. , The ongoing costs of operating, retaining video, handling PRA requests, etc are not covered by grants.
  • Public Comment
    • Clarifying previous statements regarding demands of staff. Restated his suggestion that we pursue funding for body-cams.
    • Comments that this is a form of “big brother” approach
  • The board approved this matter as presented.
E. COUNTY MATTERS

E.1. Community Development – Planning – Approve a budget adjustment for FY 24/25 for Planning – Dept 2800 increasing Revenues by $1,137 and Services & Supplies by $1,482; and approve a budget adjustment for FY 24/25 for General Fund Contingency – Dept 9901 decreasing Appropriations for Contingency by $345. Increase in General Fund appropriations in the amount of $345; current balance of General Fund Contingency is $175,818.

  • Drew Plebani | Interim Planning Director
  • This minor adjustment is required because income anticipated in the prior fiscal year came in just past the deadline.
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

Prior Closed Session Report

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

  • Direction given to staff
F. CLOSED SESSION

F.1. Government Code Section 54954.5(e) – Public Employee Appointment: County Clerk/Recorder/Assessor/Registrar of Voters

  • Direction given to staff

 

F.2. Government Code Section 54954.5(e) – Threat to Public Services or Facilities Consultation with: County Counsel and Sheriff

  • Direction given to staff

 

ADJOURN

 

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