Board of Supervisors Meeting | 9.17.2024

by | Sep 19, 2024 | Economic Development, Get Involved, Stay Informed, Trinity Resources, Your Opinion Matters

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This meeting included three presentations – including representatives of the county’s tourism partners, an update from the U.S. Forest Service, and a presentation regarding National Suicide Awareness Prevention Month. The board provided staff direction regarding the potential funding of tourism and addressed several items on the County Matters agenda.

A. PRESENTATIONS

A.1. Board of Supervisors – Receive a presentation regarding the CA North Coast Climate Change Assessment Report. No fiscal impact.

  • Andrew Stubblefield | Cal Poly Humboldt
  • Rosemary Sherriff | Cal Poly Humboldt 
    • Presentation of slides for  California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment
    • Trinity County is in the North Coast region for the purposes of this initiative
    • The timeline covers 2021 to 2026
    • Their focus on Regional Report Public Engagement & Outreach
    • Projections cover 100-year span
    • Input requested from Supervisors and Community Members
      • Contact information included in agenda backup materials
      • What trends are you seeing?
      • What are you most concerned about about climate change
      • Community Advisory Board will be established
      • 1-1 discussions
      • Other agencies involved in similar efforts
        • Fire Safe Council, Watershed Center, RCD, Tribes
      • Case Studies are helpful

A.2. County Administrative Office – Receive a Strategic Plan Update. No fiscal impact.

  • Trent Tuthill | CAO
    • Shared online Dashboard that is now used to track progress
    • Overall – 12% progress rating (towards comprehensive deliverables of the 5-year plan)
    • Monthly updates to Dashboard – to support Quarterly Updates to the public
    • The dashboard will be made public with the introduction of the new website towards the end of this calendar year.
B. PUBLIC COMMENT
  • Animal Shelter – urging the county to continue the volunteer program that supports the adoption program, licensing program, etc. Shared that volunteers have played a key role in this shelter for many years. TASA is following up with additional meetings to help plan a way forward.
  • Library – Friends of the Library representatives shared a document that reflects a proposal for keeping the Libraries open through June with $35,000 in donations, a reduction in hours, and additional volunteer staff.
  • Library – a long-time community member shared a message about the importance of both the shelter and the library system to our county.
  • Library & Shelter – encouraged the county to find a way forward for both these services. Offered her support for paying additional money to support these services.
  • Animal Shelter – emphasized the long-term problems that could result from closing the shelter. Encouraged the county to bring back someone to work on cats.
  • Animal Shelter – highlighted current problems with loose cats and dogs… that will only worsen. Suggested funding through fines of those whose animals are not licensed, spayed/neutered, etc.
  • Library – appreciation offered for the board’s actions to find solutions to these challenges. Highlighted the example of a 30% increase in health insurance costs for current and qualified retired employees. Offered support for the Friends of Library’s proposal. Also, encourage support for the Animal Shelter.
  • Budget – offered appreciation for the online/interactive budget platform. Asked for a deeper level of detail – a general ledger.
  • Budget – emphasized the importance of supporting the Library and Animal Shelter. Challenged the plan to move realignment funds from the shelter to the jail for jail health. Called for more leadership involvement at the shelter.
  • Animal Shelter – emphasized the importance of keeping the Animal Shelter open. Highlighted the many benefits of the shelter and its programs. Also emphasized the importance of keeping our Libraries open.
C. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

C.1. Report from Department Heads

  • Ruby Fierro | Chief Probation Officer
    • Highlighted changes in the regulation of programs that have impacted how probation services are delivered.
    • Noted challenges that are resulting from these changes. Anticipates things improving as new processes and roles become more familiar.

C.2. Report from County Administrative Officer

  • Recognition – shared positive comments that were shared by members of the public regarding staff members they interacted with.
  • Solid Waste – shared problems we are experiencing with the Burnt Ranch site. Shared photos of the aftermath of another break-in on this site. Looking into options to enhance security. Asked for the public’s help.
  • Positive Note – shared a photo highlighting the beautiful place where we live and work.
  • Budget Hearings – 9.24.2024.

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

  • District 1 | Ric Leutwyler
    • CA Jobs First – attended a meeting in Anderson. Funding decisions/announcements are planned for October.
    • Sierra Nevada Conservancy – attended the board meeting in Mt Shasta City.
    • Community Meetings – held in Weaverville, Lewiston, and the North Lake Area and discussed budget challenges, funding sources, and more.
    • Lewiston Community Association Park Grant – community members can sign a letter of support at the Lewiston Hotel
    • Disaster Council – met last week for updates and collaboration.
    • Economic Development Conference – asked to facilitate a portion of the summit later this month.
  • District 2 | Jill Cox
    • No out-of-county travel
    • RCRC – leaves tomorrow for meetings. 40 counties involved. Will be delivering the gift basket from Trinity County that will be raffled off during the meetings. Using this opportunity to present our basket in a way that encourages people to visit Trinity County.
    • Dispatch & Jail – spent three hours there to learn more about the challenges faced there and the reasons for staff requests.
    • Weaverville Town Hall Meeting – approximately 65 people attended. Addressed budget questions, discussed potential ways forward, etc.
    • First Five – our recently hired Executive Director has resigned. Looking into the option of moving this under H&HS. The MOU required to support this move will come before the board soon.
    • PSA2 – this month’s meeting was canceled.
    • Fire Chiefs Meeting – canceled
  • District 3 | Liam Gogan
    • No out-of-county travel
    • Children’s Dental Program coming to Weaverville in October. Appointments are required. Dental exams, x-rays, etc.  All are free of cost.
    • Town Hall Meeting – Hayfork on the 25th
  • District 4 | Heidi Carpenter-Harris
    • No out-of-county travel
    • Hyampom Community Meeting last week.
    • Junction City Community Meeting –  at the school on the 19th
    • NACO – attended the meeting via Zoom. Concerns regarding the lack of action by Congress to fund the PILT and other programs via the Farm Bill.  Secure Rural Schools funding has already stopped due to a lack of action by Congress.
  • District 5 | Dan Frasier
    • NCUAQ Meeting in Eureka on the 12th. The medical position is now filled.
    • Town Hall Meeting in Hettenpom last night – well attended.
    • Mad River Town Hall Meeting tomorrow night.
    • Budget – Asking the public to bring solutions.

C.4. Reports from Ad Hocs

1. Tribal Relations

  • Working with Tribal Representatives to reschedule their presentations to the board
  • Working with them to identify ways in which we can collaborate more effectively
  • Looking for ways that Trinity County can support efforts for Federal recognition.

2. Funding Sources – Library & Animal Shelter (and Law Enforcement)

  • Supervisor Cox
    • Funding Sources – Shared presentation that includes information gathered through research.
      • Sales Tax Increase
        • .25% increase = $250,000
        • .50% increase = $500,000
        • 1.00% increase = $1,000,000
      • Transient Occupancy Tax Increase
        • 5% increase = $300,000+
        • 10% increase = $600,000
      • Community Service Area(s) / Special District(s) (based on 12,500 taxable parcels)
        • $60 per year = $750,000
        • $100 per year = $1,250,000
        • $150 per year = $1,880,000
        • $180 per year = $2,260,000
      • Targeted Grants
      • Nonprofit Support
    • Ballot Process – A ballot is required for the tax-related options. The general election ballot ($20k estimated cost for a ballot item) would not take place for 26 months. A special election ($70k estimated cost) ballot could potentially happen within 6 months.
    • Next Steps – Supervisor Leutwyler provided information on potential next steps. These include additional informal polling and engagement to determine the level of support for options to increase revenues, hiring a professional (like the one who has been working with Butte County regarding their Sales Tax ballot measure in November, etc.

 

D. CONSENT CALENDAR
  • The board approved all ten items on the Consent Calendar as presented.

 

E. COUNTY MATTERS

 

Letter of Support – Emergency Item – Supervisor Cox offered a motion to discuss and/or take action to add a letter of support for GSCA’s grant application and found that the need to take immediate action came to the attention of the Board after the agenda was posted. The urgency is that the grant application is due on Monday, September 23, 2024.

  • The board approved this motion as presented.

 

E.1. Auditor/Controller – Approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for Auditor/Court Remittance – Dept. 8467 increasing Transfers In by $8,226; approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for Contributions to Other Funds – Dept. 1990 increasing Transfers Out by $8,226; and approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for General Fund Contingency – Dept. 9901 decreasing appropriations for contingency by $8,226. Increase in General Fund appropriations for $8,226; current Contingency balance is $119,256.

  • Christine Gaffney
  • Public Comment
    • Question regarding contingency funds – trying to make the numbers presented make sense. An explanation was provided during board discussion.
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

E.2. Auditor/Controller – Approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for Public Defender – Dept. 2170 increasing Services and Supplies by $27,010, and approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for General Fund Contingency – Dept. 9901 decreasing appropriations for contingency by $27,010. Increase in General Fund appropriations for $27,010; current Contingency balance, after prior request, is $111,030.

  • The board approved this matter as presented.

 

E.3. Community Development – Building – Approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for Planning – Dept. 2800 increasing Services and Supplies by $60,000; and approve a budget adjustment for FY 23/24 for General Fund Contingency – Dept. 9901 decreasing appropriations for contingency by $60,000. Increase in General fund appropriations in the amount of $60,000; current Contingency balance, after other requests, is $84,020.

  • The board approved this matter as presented.

 

SUBSEQUENT ITEM

Letter of Support – Authorize the Chairman to sign a letter supporting Golden State Connect Authority’s grant application to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program on behalf of its rural member counties.

  • Supervisor Cox shared background information regarding this matter.
  • Supervisor Leutwyler read the letter
  • The board approved this matter as presented.

 

PRIOR CLOSED SESSION REPORT
  • The only item on the last agenda was pulled.

 

 

F. ADJOURN

 

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