‘Sup With the Supes: A Breakdown of Tomorrow’s Meeting

The Board of Supervisors’ meeting for Tuesday, August 9 will get started promptly at 9 o’clock following a flag salute and a few gulps of coffee.  This week, your Board of Supervisors is looking at several issues of public interest, and will receive various department reports updating the Supes as usual.  Below is a breakdown of the agenda for the meeting, highlighting some agenda items of interest. With a quick read, you can see what’s on the table, and speak your mind during public comment.  

CONSENT CALENDAR: 

First thing you should know is that the Consent Calendar is normally approved without much discussion, and items on it are considered somewhat of a forgone conclusion, passed by the Supervisors in a single motion with a majority vote.  If an item listed in the Consent Calendar is “pulled” by any member of the Board, that particular agenda item will be discussed and voted on separately from the Consent Calendar.  Those changes to the Board’s agenda are to be noted by the Chair at the top of the meeting, before getting into the day’s slated topics.  

Looking at the consent calendar for the Supes’ meeting for this week, and honing in on what may be of interest or of public concern, there are a few policy-related topics, and appointments to committees to note, among the 34 total consent items listed. 

Some of the more interesting Consent Calendar items include the following: 

• Appointments to the Humboldt’s Fire Safe Council.  The financial impact is described as a huge boon to the county in this area, stating, “Maintaining the HCFSC gives the County of Humboldt and partner agencies and organizations a competitive advantage when seeking grant funds related to implementing the Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)…. The current CWPP, last updated in 2019 with guidance from the HCFSC, has been praised for its comprehensiveness and has been a powerful tool for leveraging funding and catalyzing support. Since its re-certification in 2019, the CWPP has been cited in multiple county and collaborator grant applications, playing a part in bringing millions of dollars of implementation funds into the county. Public Works alone has secured nearly $2 million in grant funding to support CWPP implementation projects.”  

With the staff report, attached letters reflect the areas of the county with pending appointments: Southern Humboldt Fire Safe Council which nominated Kathy Weber, and the Willow Creek Fire Safe Council has nominated Patti Pedigo as their representative with Regina Moon as her alternate.  

Additionally, the county’s Department of Planning and Building has nominated Supervising Planner Michael Richardson as their representative, “with Code Enforcement Manager Karen Meynell as his alternate, to fill the Department’s place on the HCFSC.”

• Appointment of Director to the Briceland Community Services District. The staff report  recommends the Supes to “Appoint Kim Nelson to the Briceland Community Services District governing board.”  Apparently, this was not a hotly contested elected position last go-round.  The staff report explains, “At the close of the filing period, no candidates had filed a declaration of candidacy for the vacancy in the governing board of the Briceland Community Services District. Accordingly, the Briceland Community Services District has requested that the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors appoint Kim Nelson, who was qualified as of the date of the Primary Election, to fill the vacancy.”  Being a local in the small Southern Humboldt shire of Briceland, Mr. Kim is willing, able and ready to take on the position.  
• Supervisor Bohn’s County Fair Proclamation: “The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors wishes to recognize the 126th anniversary of the Humboldt County Fair and encourages all Humboldt County residents to partake in this long-standing tradition by attending the fair Aug. 18th through Aug. 28, 2022.”

• A Contract for services with the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education – Northern California Training Academy regarding support “and assistance with Child Welfare Services Peer Quality Case Review,” according to the staff report with this agenda item. 

In part, the agreement is described for the Supes as an oversight “Peer Review” program, explaining, “The purpose of the PR is to conduct an in-depth review of CWS and Probation service delivery systems and case worker practices by bringing in outside peer county staff expertise to participate in the review. The PR involves participation of peer counties selected for their positive performance in the outcome measure selected. The peer counties provide experienced representatives to review CWS cases and Probation cases and interview social workers and probation officers assigned to the case. As a result, peer county participants provide case review findings and recommendations for improvement, as well as identify their county’s best practices that can contribute to positive performance in the outcome measure selected for the PR.”  

• Third Modification to Humboldt County’s Local Equity Program Manual.  The description of the topic explains that “On March 19, 2019, the Board…created the “Humboldt County Cannabis Local Equity Program (LEP) Manual for the operation of the County of Humboldt LEP,” in response to a CA Senate Bill (SB) 1294 which aimed at redirecting state funds to hard-hit areas of California’s decades long war on cannabis, and specifically addressing local regions and communities impacted adversely and disproportionately by prosecution and persecution of cultivators and rural families in the mix – The California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018. A draft of the 2022 amendment is attached to the staff report, along with several other documents of interest. 

According to the staff report, “The Humboldt County LEP Manual focuses on inclusion and support of individuals and communities in Humboldt’s cannabis industry who are linked to populations or neighborhoods that were negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization.”  

The numbers are big, looking at the two “awards awaiting administration” which total $1,055,870 and $3,429,315.  The staff report tells the Supes, “The county portion is funded through an allocation of Measure S cannabis excise tax. The LEP portion of the Measure S allocation for fiscal year (FY) 2021-22 is $106,920 and FY 2022-23 is $347,000. These contributions provide the required cash match for the GO-Biz CEG award.”   Something that got our attention was a letter from the county to Coast Central Credit Union regarding banking support locally for Project Trellis funds is also attached for review, stating in part, “the County desires to enter into an agreement with Coast Central Credit Union whereby, through the County’s Project Trellis Local Equity Program (LEP), Coast Central Credit Union may provide reduced cost banking services to eligible Project Trellis Equity Applicants.”  

• County Negotiations to Purchase 404 H Street in Eureka. Currently occupied by the Probation Department, the county wants to invest in ownership, saying, “The potential to own a building that is currently being leased would be an investment in county facilities for the greatest public benefit.”
• Negotiations to Purchase at 1315 Fourth Street, Eureka. According to the staff report, the building “could serve to relocate an existing program or be used initially as swing space to allow for other remodel/redevelopment projects considered under the 2020 Facilities Master Plan to take place, such as the Public Defender’s Office, Public Works Main or others.”

A remax listing shows the property on northbound Hwy 101 listed at nearly $2.5 million. 

There is one “Department Report” listed following the consent calendar, in which the staff report recommends, “Appoint two (2) at-large members to the Forestry Review Committee.”  

The staff report for this item names two individuals to be appointed to the committee.  According to the staff report prepared for the Supes, “At the June 28, 2022, Board of Supervisors’ meeting, the Board was notified that there was an at-large vacancy on the Forestry Review Committee due to the term expiration of Chris Carroll.  It was further noted that there was also another vacancy for a second at-large member due to a long-standing vacancy.”  

This double appointment aims to fill that void, by suggesting two community members for the four-year term which expires on June 30, 2026.  The supes were informed that one person is seeking reappointment, Chris Carroll, while the other applicant is Michael Lommori.  An applicant must be a “Registered professional forester (RPF) in good standing working in Humboldt County” to qualify for the position, even as a non-voting member.

MATTERS SET FOR TIME CERTAIN: 

Sometimes, certain items can be pre-scheduled by the Board and the County Administrative Officer to be addressed at the meeting at a designated time.  This week, closed session items are listed for “times certain” according to the agenda. 

At 9:30 a.m. sharp, following the consent calendar, which usually gets wrapped up before any of the Supes can so much as raise an eyebrow, the board will transition into closed session for a  “conference with Labor Negotiator, stating in the agenda, “it is the intention of the Board of Supervisors to meet in closed session to review the County’s position and instruct its designated labor negotiator.”

Then, the remaining 7 items listed at a specific time setting are Closed Session matters are scheduled at 11:00 a.m., although there is more time allotted for those following the rest of the agenda, and the public comment period in the afternoon. 

CLOSED SESSION: 

Scheduled for 9:30 in the morning unless decided otherwise at the start of the meeting, the Board’s June 14th Closed Session agenda reflects a total of eight items to be handled behind closed doors in “Conference with Legal Counsel” as follows: 

• 9:30 AM – Conference with Labor Negotiator “to review the County’s position and instruct its designated labor negotiator,” Employee Organizations (represented and unrepresented) listed in the staff report for this item include the local union SEIU which represents In-Home Support Services, the American Federation of State, the County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME local 1684), the Humboldt County Attorneys Association, the Humboldt Deputy Sheriffs Organization, Humboldt Deputy Sheriffs Organization Law Enforcement Management Unit, and various “Appointed Department Heads, and Management and Confidential employees”.
• 11:00 AM – Conference with Legal Counsel “to discuss existing litigation in the case of White Circle Commerce, LLC, et al. v. County of Humboldt
• Discuss existing litigation in the case of O.B. v. County of Humboldt
• Discuss existing litigation in the matter of Humboldt County Mental Health Fiscal Period Ended June 30, 2011, California Department of Health Care Services
• Discuss existing litigation in the matter of Humboldt County Mental Health Fiscal Period Ended June 30, 2012, California Department of Health Care Services 
• Consider Public Employee Appointment for the position of County Surveyor 
• Discuss existing litigation in the case of Lost Coast Outpost v. County of Humboldt,
• Discuss existing litigation in the case of Billy Rutherford v. County of Humboldt

In Closed Session, while the Board is not at liberty to include the public in the meeting, the outcome of closed session meetings are to be announced in open session for the public’s awareness following decisions by the board. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS & PUBLIC COMMENT:   

Public Comment on Non-Agenda items is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., according to the agenda. Otherwise, a member of the public may comment on a particular topic following that agenda item being discussed.  

Important matters specifically intended for mass consumption, otherwise known as Public Hearings, and this week, there are none listed in the agenda.   

A FEW PRO TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU CALL, ZOOM, OR APPEAR IN PERSON TO ENGAGE YOUR SUPERVISORS AS AN INFORMED CONSTITUENT 

Information provided by the Board of Supervisors 

for the public to engage with their Supervisors during the meeting: 

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 720-707-2699, enter Meeting ID 892 4878 3514 and press star (*) 9 on your phone, this will raise your hand. You’ll continue to hear the Board meeting on the call.  HINT:  Turn off your tv or live stream to avoid delays. 

IMPORTANT PUBLIC COMMENT NOTE: 

When it is time for public comment on the item you want to comment on, you’ll hear a prompt that will indicate your phone is unmuted. The Board advises that you “please state your name and the agenda item number you will be commenting on” and then you will have 3 minutes to comment, unless the Board has reduced the time allowance at the start of the meeting. 

How to submit information, and receive information from the Supes: 

According to the fine print on each Board of Supervisors agenda, “Any written materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Board of Supervisors less than 72 hours prior to the Board meeting, and that are public records subject to the Public Records Act, are available for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk of the Board at 825 5th Street, Suite 111, Eureka (476-2384), during normal business hours. Persons wishing to file documentation on any agenda item for the official record must submit an original and nine (9) copies of each document to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Room 111 of the County Courthouse, 825 5th Street in Eureka (476-2384). 

Documentation includes, but is not limited to, written correspondence, audio and video tapes, maps, photographs, and petitions. Failure to submit the required number of copies will result in the document/s not being placed in the official record. (Per Board of Supervisors’ policy adopted on March 21, 1995.) 

The Chamber is wheelchair accessible, and disabled parking is available in the lot on K Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets. If you are a person with a disability, and you need disability-related modifications or accommodations to participate in this meeting, please contact the Clerk of the Board at (707) 476-2384, or (707) 445-7299 (fax). Requests for such modifications or accommodations must be made at least three full business days before the start of the meeting.”

Also, for community members with mobility restriction, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if requested with 72 hours prior notice, “reasonable accommodation or modification can be made” according to the Board of Supervisors by calling the Clerk of the Board Office at 707-476-2390 or by email [email protected] or the ADA Coordinator at 844-365-0352, or by email at [email protected].  

Also, regular meetings of the Board of Supervisors are broadcast live on Suddenlink, channel 10, and are rebroadcast on Friday at 6:30 p.m. 

Members of the public that wish to observe or participate in the Board of Supervisors meetings are encouraged to watch the hybrid meeting via live web streaming on the county’s website, or call in to the meeting during public comment time, which is usually limited to a standard three minutes per topic per commenter – in person or by phone or zoom. 

Your Humboldt County Board of Supervisors are as follows: First District Supervisor Rex Bohn, Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson, Fourth District Supervisor and Board Chairperson Virginia Bass, and Fifth District Supervisor and Vice Chairperson Steve Madrone.