The Supes Talk About Covid-19 Track and Trace Funding, Granges on the Cusp, Eel River Basin Groundwater Resources and More

Screenshot of Supervisor Michelle Bushnell at Tuesday's Board Meeting.

Screenshot of Supervisor Michelle Bushnell at Tuesday’s Board Meeting.

Humboldt County’s Board of Supervisors addressed local Community Hall preservation, zoning of the Samoa Peninsula and Humboldt Bay, Eel River groundwater planning, as well as regular agenda items including COVID-19 resources for contact tracing, and handled several other matters of county business.  Here, we recap some of the highlights from the meeting, which spanned nearly four hours, not including breaks and lunch. 

The BOS website provides information on how to submit information or agenda item inquiries in writing. All five Supervisors were present for this week’s meeting, on January 25 2022. 

STAFFING THE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY 

In another lively exchange amongst the county supervisors, COVID-19 funding for track and trace county-wide was on the agenda, after state supplied funding is expected to cease.  The state funding window is expected to run out for the county’s DHHS COVID-19 track and tracing confirmed covid-19 cases, and therefore puts the county in the position of funding the local efforts to collect this data with the currently employed COVID-19 task force run by the county.

After a range of concerns expressed within public comment on the COVID agenda item, the Supervisors were inclined to take a closer look at the contract for services.  Supervisor Rex Bohn pulled the COVID-19 agenda item from the Supervisors’ Consent Calendar to have a “robust” discussion in regards to  spending on local contact tracing in the face of the recent Omicron surge.  

Concerned about efficiency as it relates to the county’s spending of roughly $100,000 on a monthly basis to continue the county’s track and trace, being handled by a total of ten county staff members.  

Having extracted the COVID-19 conversation from the consent calendar, the rest of the consent calendar also passed 5-0, with all the Supervisors in agreement.  

At this point, the conversation amongst the Supervisors in regard to the COVID-19 approved budget continued with the additional feedback from DHHS Director Connie Beck, and from Public Health Director Sophia Pereira, and assistant Public Health Director Michelle Stephens.  Beck continued the conversation by asking Bohn if further information was needed regarding the proposed contract for services.  Being a contractual issue, the Supervisors clarified that the allocation of services and personnel needed to accomplish the expansive contact tracing and follow-up needed for COVID cases and exposures was the topic up for discussion – not the COVID-19 response in general.   

Pereira added that the contact tracing is needed for congregate living settings, saying “we are past the point of doing individual contact tracing for the broader community, and really focusing our effort on vulnerable populations. So our investigations team focuses on three vulnerable  populations, so we have health care – making sure that our healthcare system, including our skilled nursing facilities are able to continue to provide care. We have schools that we are providing support to, and then vulnerable populations really, is around congregate care settings like homeless shelters, assisted living facilities, these are populations that do require a lot of outbreak support. And so our investigations team is really looking at those key three population areas, to make sure that we are able to give them the resources that they need.” 

Pereira added that the Public Health Investigation (PHI) team has grown from 2 public health nurses “pre-COVID” to 10 PHI staff members currently responding to infectious disease contact tracing.  

After the additional discussion and check–in with Public Health officials, the motion approving the agreement for services eventually passed with unanimous support from the Supervisors . 

LOCAL GRANGE AND COMMUNITY CLUB SUPPORT RESOLUTION

Madrone introduced the agenda item, which was discussed during the meeting by local advocates for Fieldbrook Community Hall.  The staff report on this topic was brief, and stated, “[T]he community halls of Bayside, Fieldbrook and Van Duzen play critically important roles in their communities providing support to schools, fire districts, emergency response groups and the non-profit community. The Board of Supervisors recognizes the dedication and service of local community halls that do not identify as a Grange, and supports these local community halls as independent corporations within the county and state.”

An archaic copy of a 1900’s era membership ceremony outline is reintroduced with the Grange Corporation’s reinstatement of member dues and bygone rules of the organization, according to the saveourhalls website.

An archaic copy of a 1900’s era membership ceremony outline is reintroduced with the Grange Corporation’s reinstatement of member dues and bygone rules of the organization, according to the saveourhalls website.

The resolution supported by the Supervisors reads in part, 

“Whereas, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors supports the community halls of Bayside, Fieldbrook, and Van Duzen, as independent corporations within the county and state,  …these local community halls have been built, funded, managed and maintained by their local communities for more than 80 years, and …these local community halls have paid all the property taxes, and …these local community halls believe their communities are the legal owners of their properties, and …these local community halls play critically important roles in their communities, tailored over many years to the unique needs of each, providing crucial support to schools, fire districts, emergency response groups, and the nonprofit community.” 

Introducing a Petition to save the community space Rowetta Miller, and MArgie Plant both made a virtual appearance to speak on behalf of the resolution, and encouraged locals who are interested to check out their website

Screenshot of CHANGE.ORG petition by Bayside Community Hall, January 26, 2022. 

Screenshot of CHANGE.ORG petition by Bayside Community Hall, January 26, 2022. 

According to the Save Our Halls Website, the former Bayside Grange, which was shuttered last fall in 2021, is an example of what is at stake for Fieldbrook’s Community Hall.  The website reads, “This is the Obligation Ceremony for the initiation of new Grange members. It was last used in the 1990s at Bayside Grange #500 (now Bayside Community Hall). We couldn’t access newer documents about the Grange’s rituals and oath because they’re only available to members. Grange representatives claim that most of these rituals are no longer required, but they are still prominent in the organization’s rules and guidance.” 

Madrone explained that the Grange Corporation can “shutter these halls” and does not leave local communities with much recourse, referencing the former Bayside Grange. 

The resolution was passed unanimously by the Supervisors after an in-depth discussion of legal implications and community interest.   

BOARD TECH UPGRADES & IN-PERSON MEETINGS 

According to the agenda item, with the upgraded equipment properly installed in the Supervisors Chambers in Eureka, the staff report recommends the Supervisors prepare to “open the Board Chambers to in-person meetings with a hybrid option beginning March 1, 2022” and also plans to have the Supervisors practice with a mock meeting, to test out the new gear. 

The board was informed that the project is about 95% completed, including things like upgraded sound, tv monitors, wiring, and tech training for staff.  According to the staff report, progress includes specifically new TV monitors which “have been installed in place of the old Smartboards,” and “one additional camera” which was “installed to facilitate better optics during meetings.”  The final component is for the Supervisors to conduct “  a series of mock voting sessions” to familiarize staff and the Supervisors with the new VoteCast system.  

One of the exciting new elements of the tech upgrade will allow the public to view these voting results on the monitors recently installed in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, behind the Chairperson’s dias.  Perhaps even more exciting for the public, a timer will be shown on the monitor counting the 3-minutes for each public commenter, clearly visible.    

These highly anticipated changes, including the hybrid virtual or in-person option, are expected to begin on the 1st of March.  This agenda item as presented to the Supervisors , was passed unanimously following some COVID-19 related public comment.     

SECOND PUBLIC HEARING FOR SAMOA PENINSULA ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE 

Boundary Map provided with the Agenda item January 25, 2022. 

Boundary Map provided with the Agenda item January 25, 2022. 

This project was addressed by the members of the Public Financing Authority (PFA), including Supervisor Bass and Wilson in their roles as the members of the board, and included this agenda in the Supeervisor’s agenda for the BOS meeting of the same day, as well as a number of attachments in addition to the staff report.   

The staff report notes, “The PFA will hold three Public Hearings to hear and consider public comment before final adoption of the IFP and establishment of the EIFD. Adoption of the IFP requires approval by your Board, which Staff will seek following the second Public Hearing.” 

In regards to the anticipated financial impact, the staff report explains, “The county has committed 75% of its Property Tax Increment for property within the EIFD to see that these goals are met. Multiple proposed projects on the Samoa Peninsula will require functional infrastructure to succeed.”  The report further notes that a “Fiscal Impact Analysis based on the current Tax Increment commitment shows that this development will generate an estimated $261.1 million in annual ongoing economic output in the county, and have an estimated total net fiscal impact of $52.8 million, in present value dollars, to the General Fund throughout the expected lifetime of the EIFD.” 

A third public hearing is anticipated on March 1st, completing the required series of three public meetings.  Brief public comment was offered on this agenda item, and so the PFA board voted  unanimously in favor, adjourned, and reconvened as the Board of Supervisors. 

PUBLIC HEARING ON GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN FOR THE EEL RIVER VALLEY GROUNDWATER BASIN 

The draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Eel River Valley Groundwater Basin, included in the agenda item materials with the staff report for this public hearing Item.

The draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Eel River Valley Groundwater Basin, included in the agenda item materials with the staff report for this public hearing item.

The Supervisors held the scheduled public hearing to consider adopting the proposed Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Eel River Valley Groundwater Basin, and the first amendment to the contract with GHD regarding the “professional consulting services designed to assist with the preparation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Eel River Valley Groundwater Basin.” 

In response to Supervisor Bushnell’s request for a brief explanation as to why the county is taking this step, Hank Seemann explained, “It’s a mandatory requirement from state law and if the county did not form a groundwater agency and developed this plan, then the state waterboard would likely have intervened and part of that invention included would would likely include fees on water users.”

The draft GSP was revised following the review of written comments submitted for the public BoS meeting and comment period of January 4, 2022. According to the elaborate staff report for this issue, several amendments were listed as follows: 

  • “Background information was added regarding groundwater in California, key principles of SGMA, groundwater rights and the California Department of Water Resources’ process for evaluating and assessing submitted GSPs (Section 1).
  • The GSP states more clearly the expectation that upstream surface water diversions from the Potter Valley Project in Mendocino County will be discontinued during the dry season when the Pacific Gas and Electric Company decommissions Scott Dam in the near future (Section 2).
  • The GSP incorporates additional discussion of groundwater and surface water elevation data collected in 2021 (Section 4).
  • Calculations and discussion regarding the components of the water budget and changes in groundwater storage were updated (Section 5).
  • The sustainable yield was determined to be 30,000 acre-feet per year (Section 6).
  • The basis for sustainable management criteria, as a percent increase of current pumping levels, was adjusted from 150% to 100% (Section 6).
  • Content was added identifying the benefits of a watershed-based approach for actions to enhance surface water flows entering the Basin, including, without limitation, water storage and forbearance, wetland restoration, groundwater recharge and ecologically-based forest thinning (Section 8).
  • An appendix was added containing the comment letters on the administrative draft GSP and responses to the comments (Appendix G).
  • Content in various sections was clarified and/or completed. Accordingly, staff recommends that the governing board of the Humboldt County Groundwater Sustainability Agency adopt the attached resolution adopting the final GSP for the Basin.” 

The staff report attached to this agenda item recommended that the Supervisors, “[A]dopt the attached resolution adopting the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Eel River Valley groundwater basin.”  Supervisor Mike Wilson at one point in the discussion indicated his support for the plan, saying “there’s no value to wasting water.”  A number of public commenters let their concerns be known – from cannabis farms to cattle ranches – and the Supervisors were attentive. 

Roll call vote counted 4 – 1, passing with Bohn in dissent, who stated his position simply by adding, “No. We shouldn’t be here in the first place.” 

COASTAL COMMISSION MODS TO HUMBOLDT BAY AREA PLAN FOR SAMOA PENINSULA’S WASTEWATER PROJECT

Samoa Peninsula Wastewater Project Zoning Map included with attached item no. 7 of the documents for review. 

Samoa Peninsula Wastewater Project Zoning Map included with attached item no. 7 of the documents for review. 

The agenda item includes several documents for the Supervisors to have reviewed in advance of the meeting and public hearing. The Staff report advised the Supervisors to “adopt the proposed Humboldt Bay Area Plan and Zoning Map amendments.” 

The fiscal impact is described, in part, “budgeted to come from the fiscal year 2021-22 General Fund contribution to the Long-Range Planning unit,” and note that the “construction of the wastewater transmission line project will be grant funded.”  This project is expected to be “developed and operated without the need for any future funding from the county,” according to the lengthy staff report

This item passed with a unanimous vote by the Supervisors . 

Email Public Comment: 

To submit public comment to the Board please email [email protected], provide your name and the agenda item number(s) on which you wish to comment. 

All public comment submitted after the agenda has been published will be included with the administrative record after the fact. 

Zoom Public Comment: 

When the Board of Supervisors announce the agenda item that you wish to comment on, call the conference line and turn off your TV or live stream. Please call 720-707-2699, enter Meeting ID 859 5807 0911 and press star (*) 9 on your phone, this will raise your hand.

You’ll continue to hear the Board meeting on the call. When it is time for public comment on the item you wish to speak on, the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors staff will unmute your phone. You’ll hear a prompt that will indicate your phone is unmuted. Staff will then ask you to state your name and begin your comment. You will have 3 minutes to comment. 

You may access the live stream of the meeting by using the following link: https://humboldt.legistar.com  

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19 Comments
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Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
2 years ago

I can’t imagine continuing contract tracing. The expensive is so high and I have to truly wonder it is that efficient/accurate. At this point doesn’t everyone know the risks and mitigations?

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
2 years ago
Reply to  Hayforker

It inly made snese in combination with “shelter-in-place” which itself didn’t make sense the way we did it.

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago
Reply to  Hayforker

For schools, yes. Parents need to be made aware of infections in classrooms because they need to arrange alternate care when infections close class rooms. Nursing homes likely because that population is so vulnerable and the owners of them have a history of not doing what they need to do regarding personnel. But couldn’t the rest seemingly get by if they simply had access to regular testing in house without the need to trace contacts?

ILoveplants
Guest
ILoveplants
2 years ago

Since track and trace doesn’t work for cannabis, let’s give it a whirl for Covid…

Permanently on Monitoring
Guest
Permanently on Monitoring
2 years ago

Michelle wasting your money, part II…

That sauce
Guest
That sauce
2 years ago

Suspend measure S

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
2 years ago
Reply to  That sauce

Im ok with that IF we also outlaw generators and make growers pay for their own alternative systems.

BigRick
Guest
BigRick
2 years ago
Reply to  well . . .

So you want to do what California is already forcing licenced growers to do?

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago

The more detailed information than normal in this article was interesting. Thank you.

Seth
Guest
Seth
2 years ago

So Bohn doesn’t care about the sustainability of the water supplies for two cities and 7 communities in the Eel/Van Duzen River basins.

“Oh my God, I have eventually come to know what exactly is wrong with my brain: nothing is right on the left part, and nothing is left on the right part.”

-Elmer Fudd.

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago
Reply to  Seth

Yep, everyone else on the Eel River drainage, has to exercise water use forbearance, so the water can reach the dairymen’s groundwater, so they can stay in business. No one else but Bohn’s constituency must matter.

I’m not buying the part about the non-existent hydrological connection.

local observer
Guest
local observer
2 years ago
Reply to  Guest

The Water Board has required the County to implement a program by the end of the year (last year) or they will do it. the outcome of this study will conclude with meters on every water well in the basin. then an agency will monitor your water usage. obtaining a well permit will become very difficult which will limit development. the last 2 words is what scares Bohn and the other property owners that have subdivisions in their dreams.

Hey
Guest
Hey
2 years ago
Reply to  Seth

If you were included in the discussion and reporting by county officials on the current status of groundwater, you would know that there is plenty of groundwater in the eel river basin. Bohn was doing his own protest by voting “no”. Because there is plenty of ground water, the eel river basin shouldn’t even need to be monitored by the waterboard.
In reality, the water board, and the heads of this state are putting broad restrictions across the entire state that are not needed here (that’s who your reduced water usage is being mandated by). Especially when the Potter Valley Project goes under.
The county has been monitoring the water levels of the basin for at least a year now, and their finding show that there is plenty of ground water, and the constituents of Rex’s district aren’t even making a dent in the availability of ground water.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago

Fix the CRV snafu ffs. It is a state-sponsored ripoff.

BigRick
Guest
BigRick
2 years ago

You shouldn’t be spending taxpayer dollars on tracking the community no matter the reason because that’s illegal

LazyDaze
Guest
LazyDaze
2 years ago
Reply to  BigRick

It is a state mandate that local health departments conduct case investigation and contact tracing of certain infectious diseases; COVID-19 is one of them. Not only is it not illegal, it is required that public health do it, and funding allocated to them by the state to do it. This is normal boring ass public health basic 101. It’s sad and stupid how it’s been twisted into some far-fetched gestapo conspiracy by uneducated/poorly educated paranoid factions of folks.

spam
Guest
spam
2 years ago
Reply to  LazyDaze

Agree. “Public health” …what a concept

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
2 years ago

So it appears inevitable that the once beautiful peninsula will be an industrial nightmare in order to fund the county’s and harbor district’s voracious appetite for tax revenue they have both proven they can’t efficiently manage and that the lower Eel River groundwater withdrawals will be subordinated to the needs of the pot industry and the Mendocino-Sonoma water interests.

Sandy Beaches
Guest
Sandy Beaches
2 years ago

Regarding the Eel River water issue. I’m speculating that there is a good supply in the lower river area for the dairy farmers. Tests of wells nearer the ocean could be conducted looking for a pattern of salt water intrusion due to water table issues. I would be more concerned with the water levels above the area where the South Fork of the Eel meets the main part of the Eel river and the area above where the Van Duzen meets the Eel river. The increase demand of water by growers has been noticed by river watchers and well users. A little bit here and a little bit there really adds up. If you have a dripping water faucet try putting a large bowl or pitcher under it and record the amount of water caught in 8 hours and then multiply that by 3 to get a day’s amount of wasted water. Then by 7 to get a week’s amount of wasted water. Then by 4 to get an approximate monthly amount of wasted water. The amount may surprise you!
For example. 2 quarts in 8 hours times 3 equals 6 quarts or 1-1/2 gallons. 1-1/2 gallons times 7 , a week, equals 10 -1/2 gallons. 10 -1/2 gallons times 4, a month, equals 42 gallons. I hope my math is correct. But yea all those little drips add up.
The water diverted by the dams is a factor for sure. But until that diversion is stopped , if ever, the water issues fall on the increased take of water, legal or not, by the growers.