Board of Supervisors Delves Into Cannabis, COVID, Airport Upgrades (Vegas Anyone?), K-9’s, Domestic Violence, and More

Humboldt County’s Board of Supervisors tackled a number of agenda items of interest this week.  Here are some of the highlights and actions taken by the Board, including an illuminated Fortuna billboard still denied, funds for furry deputies, drought task force update, relief for cannabis cultivators, and a COVID-19 update from the County Public Health Officer.  

SUPERVISOR BUSHNELL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROCLAMATION

 Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell recognized domestic violence awareness, saying “DV and intimate partner violence doesn’t just affect partners, it affects everybody around.”  Bushnell emphasized the importance of awareness, encouraging community members to “really educate yourself about [domestic violence] and intimate Partner violence awareness is just a really important part of understanding it and helping and supporting people through it.” 

Fourth District Supervisor Bass concurred, recalling a moment from a meeting several years ago, in which an artistic remembrance – a group of silhouettes of locals who died of domestic violence – was presented in the chambers as a memorial tribute to the victims. Bass said, “It was really impactful.”  

Bushnell added, “My family has been touched by domestic violence in many ways,” as she recalled her own experience with domestic violence, and the traumatic loss of a beloved southern Humboldt daughter of the Bushnell family.  

2nd District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell brought attention to the issue of domestic violence locally.

She continued, “While I haven’t seen the silhouettes, one of those silhouettes is my Husband’s daughter, and his ex-wife’s… and so yes, it is a very dear subject to me and it’s a very important subject for our county and for our nation.”  

The proclamation was adopted with a 5-0 vote.  

DOMESTIC CANNABIS ERADICATION – NEW TOOL PURCHASE 

Sheriff Honsal explained that the county’s Sheriff’s Office is looking forward to acquiring a new “rescue tool” for the eradication of cannabis in Humboldt County. This device would “allow MET to safely pry or cut through fortifications found during field operations. It will also allow the team to enter secured areas during fire season without having to use a grinder or torch, which could spark and start a blaze.” 

The purchase of the new rescue tool is approved for purchase with the Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program Grant and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) funds, for a total of $12,596.  

The tool purchase for MET was approved 5-0 by the board.  

SHERIFF’S OFFICE GETS TWO NEW FURRY FRIENDS 

The Sheriff’s Department is taking advantage of asset forfeiture funds accrued to secure the additional two K-9 recruits.  Supervisor Rex Bohn explained that the new police dogs are sourced from a trainer with local roots.  Bohn said, “Brad Meyers is a local born and raised kid,” noting that the family is still local, and that he does on-site training locally.  Bohn added, “We always hear ‘what do we do with that asset forfeiture money that we hear about in the back of the paper’ and it’s not for anything but public good, so I wanted to thank the Sheriff for that.”

According to the staff report regarding the cost of the addition of two furry officers (to the tune of $13,110 each) the police purchase of pups hardly makes a dent in the total asset forfeiture holdings of the county.  “As of Sept. 14, 2021 the HCSO State Asset Forfeiture Trust Fund 3642 has a balance of $1,198,228.01. There is no additional General Fund request for this program expansion.” 

Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal acknowledged, “This is one of those things that as we have less deputy officers on the streets. You know, having a K-9 is a force multiplier, and so the goal is to have four K-9s within our department over the next two years. We have one. We’re adding an additional two more – essentially, that’s what this is going to cover.  So we’re really excited about it.”  

The motion was approved 5-0 with supervisor Rex Bohn emphatically adding, “Woof woof!”

IT’S VEGAS, BABY! AND NECESSARY AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS

A lump sum agreement was approved for an Airport System Planning Study, at a cost of  $1,598,868 which will be 100% reimbursed through the FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grant. This comes on the heels of Humboldt’s fresh flights to Vegas, promising improvements to local infrastructure as well as access to new jet-setting opportunities. 

From his Humboldt County office, Cody Roggatz, Director of Aviation was glad to answer questions about Humboldt’s Aviation improvements. 

This will allow for the six Humboldt County airports to be individually studied and evaluated to include an Inventory of airport facilities and activity, determination of Facility Requirements, as well as a “Recommended Development Plan” for each location according to the staff report.  It would also allow for the creation of an “Implementation and Financial Plan” with a ten year capital development plan, and then ultimately, the production of an updated Airport Layout Plan Drawing set for each airport.

The board was advised to accept this recommendation, with the alternative describing infrastructure failure.  The Staff report wrote, “Humboldt County airports will eventually become unusable and unable to provide critical local services if maintenance of runway and taxiway pavements, and associated airport infrastructure, aren’t evaluated and addressed.”

This passed with a 5-0 vote by the board. 

LIT-UP BILLBOARD DENIED AT ROHNERVILLE

A Conditional Use Permit for a new “illuminated off-premise billboard sign located on a parcel zoned for Commercial Highway with a Q Overlay Zone” was rejected again by the Sups. The proposed billboard is 50 feet tall, with a sign dimension of 40 feet x 12 feet (480 sq ft sign area), is double-sided, and “would be illuminated from dusk to midnight daily by two energy-efficient LED luminaries” according to the appeal to the board.  The location of the billboard is at the intersection of Hwy 101 and  “the southeast corner of Drake Hill Road and Eel River Drive, approximately 250 feet east of the Caltrans right-of-way and 300 feet from the east edge of Highway 101 on the property known as 2013 Drake Hill Road.” 

The board concluded again that the proposed billboard would not be compatible with the General Plan, nor is in the best interest of the public, writing in part that the billboard, “cannot be made where the proposed billboard increases potential traffic hazards and visual blight along Highway 101.” 

DHHS EDUCATION FROM UC DAVIS CONTINUED 

The board also considered and ultimately accepted a contract for services with University of California at Davis for training for local Department of Health and Human Services workers.  Humboldt’s DHHS has been contracting with the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) for the provision of state and federally mandated training since 1990.  

The training will be for continuing education of local DHHS staff, via online classes provided by UC Davis, and will consist of up to 32 units of online training services “related to the subject areas selected by COUNTY from the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education Curriculum.”  

The board’s agenda item recommends to the Sups in part, “Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with the University of California, Davis regarding the provision of training services to Department of Health and Human Services staff in the amount of $126,480 for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.” 

The cost for the online training classes is detailed as a flat rate of $4,250 for one 6-hour unit, and is authorized for up to 32 units. Matching funds provided by the contractor total $9,520 according to the services agreement. 

An additional services agreement for on-site training services as well, at a cost of $71,145 in which one series of 18 days of on-site training would be dedicated to administrative analyst staff, and another series specifically for supervisory staff within DHHS.         

DROUGHT TASK FORCE UPDATE 

The Garberville Sanitation District provided an update on the status of the Eel River flow, saying that the Ag Meters were restricted for about a week, but are now receiving water flow again thanks to two rainfall events last month that brought the water back to a minimal flow level.  With more rain expected in coming weeks, the Eel is expected to show improvements. 

A graphic included in the Staff report to the BOS showing the flow in northern Humboldt’s Luffenholtz Creek is currently registering flows below drought levels.

A letter from March of this year addressed to the BOS from local scientist and expert in Hydrology, Randy Klein.  Kein advocates for in depth analysis and exploration of alternatives to well-drilling. Klein writes in part, “Lately I have been contacted by landowners concerned about new water wells being installed by their neighbors for commercial cannabis farms. They worry that the new wells will reduce their water supplies during the dry season, and that the County’s permitting process may not recognize this distinct possibility.” 

Klein brought attention to the potential lack of information available to the County, suggesting that there is a lack of data on the subject, and that the County may be making choices without having all the necessary information.  Taking about the concerns of property owners regarding potential water loss, Klein wrote, “Their worries may be well justified, but without intensive study, no one can say for sure, not the permit seeker, the well driller, or those that may suffer from the new groundwater extractions. Yet the County seems poised to approve new or expanding grows with industrial-sized water needs in a vacuum of factual information.”  Klien asserts, “Water storage (tanks) [are] the answer, along with growing practices that emphasize efficient water use for irrigation.”  

Referencing the Sanctuary Forest in the Upper Mattole, Klein explains in his letter, “Pumping from wells to fill storage tanks, or using rainwater catchment from roofs, outside of the dry season allows water extraction from creeks and aquifers to become seasonal, with forbearance during the driest part of the year.” 

HUMBOLDT COUNTY OFFERS SOME RELIEF TO CANNBIS CULTIVATORS

As cannabis cultivators face plummeting prices, the Board of Supervisors took some steps to help.

First, the Board gave cultivators more time to pay Measure S taxes. Planning and Building Director John Ford noted that the treasurer-tax collector’s office didn’t “have the software or the personnel” to create payment plans. But, he suggested that the Board not add any additional fees for late payment of taxes as long as everything was paid up by May of 2022. The Board approved the motion unanimously.

Humboldt County Planning and Building Director John Ford.

Ford also talked about ways to alleviate cultivator concerns identified by the Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee. He and Supervisor Madrone noted how important it was to communicate with the Planning Department if the costs of mandated improvements had become difficult as income dried up. Both said that the County and DFW were willing to work with struggling cultivators.

In addition, the Board agreed to send a letter to the Department of Cannabis Control asking them to allow cultivators to reduce their cultivation area prior to the beginning of the season without risking losing their license. The draft of the letter currently states, “Allowing such an incentive provides the ability for cultivators to reduce cultivation in response to market conditions, environmental conditions (drought, wildfire) or other factors (family health) without having the fixed overhead of annual state costs associated with a license.”

HUMBOLDT COUNTY’S COVID-19 UPDATE VIA SUBMITTED REPORT

Dr. Ian Hoffman provided an update report to the Sups. He said he was hoping for a continuation of the downward trend in deaths and hospitalizations following two months of record breaking local COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. 

A graph presented to the board of supervisors shows vaccinated cases in contrast to unvaccinated case rates locally.

Dr. Hoffman offered some statistics to illustrate the current COVID landscape locally, explaining that vaccinated residents are faring better than unvaccinated by a long shot. “Hospitalizations remain nearly double what they were at the peak of previous winter and spring surges. The average age for hospitalization in the Delta surge differs among fully vaccinated and unvaccinated groups (57 years of age average for unvaccinated hospitalizations, 74 years of age average for post-vaccine infection hospitalizations). This is also true of deaths based on vaccination status (65 years of age average for unvaccinated deaths, 74 years of age average for post-vaccine infection deaths).” 

In regard to booster shots and vaccine availability, Hoffman explained that the mobile vaccination teams are working with all hands on deck going into the holiday season.  “We expect all COVID-19 vaccine providers to become busier in the coming weeks with expected expansion of additional shots for all three vaccines as well as expected approval for the 5–11- year-old ages.”  

The Health Officer continued, explaining in his written report who is eligible and when they should consider getting their booster shot.  “CDPH has endorsed the expansion of 3rd doses for Pfizer based on CDC recommendations. A 3rd booster shot of Pfizer should be given to everyone 6 months after their 2nd dose for those age 65+, those age 18+ who live in high-risk long-term care facilities, as well as those 50-64 with certain medical conditions. These priority groups should get their 3rd doses of Pfizer right away if eligible. Other groups were also approved that may get Pfizer booster shots 6 months after becoming fully vaccinated based on age 18-49 with underlying medical conditions or with occupational risks (healthcare, teachers, grocery, jail, homeless, and more).” 

According to Hoffman’s written report the board, “Based on CDC data tracker website, Humboldt County continues to be in the ‘Red, High Transmission’ tier.”  

Below is the entire written report to the board from Dr. Hoffman: