[0:00] Okay,

[4:05] welcome. Seeing it's now 10 a.m., the Board of Supervisors of the County of Delanor and the governing body of all other special assessment and taxing districts. For which said, board so acts is now meeting in regular session. Only those items that indicate a specific time will be heard at the same time. All their items will be taken up sequence to accommodate the public staff availability. How they could you please take the role? Supervisor Howard.

[4:29] Here. Supervisor Wilson.

[4:34] Here. Supervisor Short.

[4:37] I'm here. Chair Borges. I am here. And I'll make note that supervisor Starkey is absent.

[4:43] Thank you. Please join me in a brief moment of reflection.

[5:04] Thank you, supervisor Wilson. Would you lead us in the pledge allegiance?

[5:31] Any introduction of new employees?

[5:33] None today, Chair.

[5:34] None. Okay. Council, anything to report out of closed session?

[5:40] No, Chair.

[5:42] It's time to chair requests any deletions, corrections or additions from board members to the agenda and order to add an item to the agenda the matter must have come to the attention of the county subsequent to the posting of the agenda and the matter requires action before the next regular meeting of the board of supervisors.

[5:58] Seeing none, we'll move on to brief reports.

[6:02] Supervisor Howard.

[6:04] Try to keep it brief, attended the two days worth of county budget workshops.

[6:13] They were all quite informative here, this last go around with all our department heads.

[6:19] Other than DHSS, which we don't ask too because she state funded, but our general fund departments in particular were here in answering questions to the board for quite long periods of time.

[6:29] I thought it was very informative and more importantly is really going to set a course for us for a budget approval process in September this next month.

[6:40] Did get some relatively good news and hoping to get back to the board here quickly on our work around the Good Neighbor Authority agreement.

[6:49] Mr. Hooper has done an excellent job in communications with the U.S.

[6:53] Force Service, Gasky Ranger District and staff moving those projects forward with a good

[6:58] neighbor authority that the board gave direction on.

[7:01] So I hope to see some agreement after the start of the federal fiscal year which is October

[7:07] 1 for the board to consider at that time.

[7:11] And that's the end of my report, Mr. Chairman.

[7:14] Thank you, Mr. Howard.

[7:15] Supervisor Wilson.

[7:18] Thank you, Chair.

[7:32] There was a leak that was fixed on Iowa, however, they failed to repair the road after

[7:43] they finished their job and so the determination as to, it's the water departments responsibility

[7:51] to patch the roads after they've torn them up and it's just a matter of getting the city

[7:55] to actually get it done.

[7:58] Out of the net just had the budget meetings, it was good to hear from the staff as well

[8:06] as the excellent work that the budget team has put together, getting things done and balancing

[8:15] and trying to get us back into balance for the upcoming year. And thank the board and all the

[8:23] members for the work that we have done and got accomplished this, this over year part of it

[8:30] in setting the new job qualifications and steps systems as well as trying to standardize

[8:41] our policies, procedures as we go forward and did add to the overall balance of our budget

[8:48] but the good work done by staff has brought a lot of that into control and as we go and

[8:55] forward and further figure out what our balance is. Hopefully we'll have the final answers

[9:01] that we need as we go forward and we're looking at the impacts of HR1 and a few other things

[9:07] that we haven't yet got solided out but our concerns are on our monitor. So as we go

[9:14] forward we'll be addressing those and that ends my report. Thank you.

[9:18] Thanks, Mr. Wilson.

[9:19] Good by the short.

[9:21] I don't have anything to date here.

[9:23] Okay.

[9:24] That'll take us to consent agenda.

[9:27] I think we could have a little bit of discussion on item three, if-

[9:30] For us to provide that non-federal share, we use the IGT funding.

[9:37] It's actually pretty flexible.

[9:38] It just has to have a nexus to medic how recipients.

[9:41] So we've used it for match and operating costs for infrastructure, some stuff with the shelter,

[9:46] or the legacy kind of ongoing costs for our Medi-Cal recipients.

[9:50] We've also used it for outreach and other services like that.

[9:55] That's kind of just a general kind of drill down on what it is.

[9:59] I appreciate that.

[10:00] Thank you, Renelle.

[10:01] Yes, sir.

[10:03] Now we'll make that motion that we approve.

[10:05] That's second, your motion.

[10:07] We have a motion.

[10:08] We have second.

[10:09] County.

[10:10] Supervisor Wilson?

[10:11] Yes.

[10:12] Supervisor Howard?

[10:13] Yes.

[10:14] Supervisor Short?

[10:15] Yes.

[10:15] Chair Borgis. Yes.

[10:19] Okay, let's take us to general government. Item number five, approve and adopt a resolution to reduce the public office hours for the Treasurer Tax Collector as requested by the Treasurer Tax Collector.

[10:31] Move, approve.

[10:33] Second. Any public comment?

[10:38] Seeing none.

[10:41] and, uh, hi. Supervisor Howard? Yes. Supervisor Wilson? Yes. Supervisor Short? Yes.

[10:51] Chair board, yes. Item six, uh, approved salary step placement at step three for the newly hired,

[10:58] economic development services manager as requested by the county administration officer and recommended by the director of human resources and risk management.

[11:06] Chair,

[11:09] I know this is a, this is a great day for Delnar County and I want to emphasize this on our agenda item.

[11:21] I've really felt there's been a void since the trade and see and our ability to address economic development here,

[11:28] concerns here in the county has been kind of lax.

[11:32] I think this really puts us in a forward position based on our strategic planning that we've all approved to get somebody

[11:40] directly in touch with the economic development needs of Donor County and higher position here in our administrative department.

[11:47] And I know I for one recommend moving this forward and would move that motion.

[11:54] That will second any public comment on item six.

[12:04] Hello, Amy LaFnir, SCIU, 10 to 1.

[12:08] We do have some comments and that is that we're hiring at step three again when we've already said that the salaries

[12:15] the schedule that we've put in place is sufficient to keep and retain employees and then

[12:22] we are also saying that the salary schedule is causing us to be, is causing the shortfall

[12:28] and so hiring again at a step three is increasing that shortfall that we are saying that the

[12:35] salaries have already caused us to have a shortfall so we just want to keep that in mind.

[12:39] Thank you.

[12:42] Okay.

[12:43] Close public comment.

[12:44] We might have the board.

[12:45] Further comments?

[12:46] Discussion?

[12:46] Yeah, the only thing I can say is, I want to thank the board and our actions that we

[12:54] take in establishing this as a priority, trying to find the right fit for donor county.

[13:01] As taken some time, this person has 20 years of experience.

[13:06] That's why they're going to the three.

[13:09] That hopefully will be a good match for donor county, as it is an area that we definitely have

[13:14] and we have a lack behind having someone dedicated towards economic development within our community.

[13:19] We've seen the city take great strides over the recent years and getting projects and programs and other things moving.

[13:29] And we see the effects that that has had to the city.

[13:33] One of our major priorities as a board is overlooking the economic growth and or management of our county.

[13:41] As we have identified, we have had some, with our loss of timber that came in, our hope

[13:50] is that timber is going to be back on the Department of Interior and managing in a different

[13:58] way so that timber may come back.

[14:01] But again, one of the issues is the fact that we don't have the mills that we used to have.

[14:06] And so even if they were to open up logging again, there's no there's no place for that to be serviced and dealt with and so that'll be an area of hopeful growth, but it's coming in the impacts that we're seeing on our fishing fleets.

[14:23] The index we're seeing in our agriculture here locally that have been drivers, economic drivers of our community.

[14:27] And so having an economic development that is looking at where we can grow, where we can

[14:35] get the tourist dollars, the economic, the visitor dollars that come to see our beautiful

[14:40] area and our redwoods, hopefully this economic development that we do have will work hand

[14:47] and hand with our planning department and others to make the process of opening businesses and

[14:53] coming to Donor County, a much more pleasurable experience and

[14:57] encouraged growth in development, whether it's through time.

[15:00] Exprakes, or other options that we can give to businesses to come into Delano County, but it's definitely something that has been long needed to take a step forward. And I want to thank the board for all of our direction and getting us to this point. Thank you, Mr. Wilson. Nothing else to add. Kylie, could you pull them up? Supervisor Wilson. Yes. Supervisor short. Yes. Supervisor Howard. Yes. Dear board, yes. Item number seven.

[15:29] 7, discuss and consider taking action to modify the start time of the regular board of supervisors meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 by a convening closed session at 8 a.m., an opening regular session at 9 a.m. to accommodate board members travel to the rural County representatives of California annual meeting.

[15:49] I move to approve, Mr. Chairman.

[15:53] I have a little second to appreciate your considering this item.

[15:58] Motion to second. Any public comment?

[16:00] Chair, just I wanted to state that we do have the opening of the budget hearings.

[16:05] I'm scheduled for 1030 that day, and it's already been posted.

[16:09] So just want to keep that in mind as well.

[16:18] How would that be?

[16:20] The first meeting in September, you're talking about correct?

[16:23] September 22.

[16:24] Oh, never mind.

[16:25] Disregard.

[16:26] I apologize. Yeah, never mind. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was thinking the first meeting in September. I apologize

[16:35] Okay, so we have motion. We're second

[16:41] Supervisor Wilson. Yes

[16:43] Supervisor short. Yes, supervisor Howard. Yes chair board. Yes

[16:49] Budget transfers item number eight approve an adopt budget transfer number zero six dash zero seven in the amount of 34,396

[16:57] dollars within the planning division budget to realign appropriations for salary and benefit expenditures as requested by the director of community development.

[17:07] As chairman, I move we approve the bloody transfer 06-07 second.

[17:14] In a second, any public comment.

[17:18] Close public comment and Kylie.

[17:21] Supervisor Howard.

[17:22] Yes.

[17:24] Supervisor Wilson.

[17:26] Yes.

[17:27] Yes.

[17:27] Supervisor Fort.

[17:28] Yes.

[17:29] Chair board.

[17:31] And that leaves us with one item left, but it is a timed item for $10.25.

[17:37] So we will take-

[17:37] I just laid it.

[17:39] Legislative and budget issues.

[17:40] If there's anything.

[17:43] What do you have anything to add to the legislative?

[17:46] Nope.

[17:47] That'll leave us our $10.25 timed item so we will take a break and be back at $10.25.

[18:02] I'll be right here.

[18:02] Okay,

[27:15] welcome back to our 1025 time item public comment period. Members of the public may address the board on matters

[27:20] which are within this jurisdiction of the board. If you are addressing the board regarding a matter listed on the agenda

[27:24] you may be asked to hold your comments until the board takes up that matter. Please let me your comments see three minutes or less. Any public comment?

[27:37] Hi, it's Alicia Williams. This is really weird. It's like a ghost town in here and the consent agenda was three items which I'm thinking is historical.

[27:46] very bizarre walking in here today.

[27:48] So the reason I'm here is because you guys are the appointing board

[27:51] for the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee.

[27:54] They have not met in three consecutive months.

[27:58] The last meeting that they had was May 11th.

[28:01] They have not met June, July or August.

[28:06] They also have not given notice that they weren't going to hold meetings.

[28:10] They are well aware Jackie Bennett and the chair is Rob Miller.

[28:15] They're well aware of the Basic Brown Act requirements for public notice, so this is blatant violations

[28:21] Not informing the public people from Smith River have attempted to come and there wasn't quorum

[28:29] Last month, so there was I believe five

[28:32] That attended out of 12 and so they didn't have quorum

[28:36] Yesterday when I showed up I was the only one to show up the doors were locked. So that means the clerk hadn't arrived

[28:43] zero cars of zero members were in the parking lot. I was there speaking with

[28:49] Heidi from CDD Department because she was on the premises and she went to see

[28:54] if there was any notice in the hallway. There was no notice. There was no

[28:58] agenda. There was an agenda online. That's why I showed up. I do have a life. So it's

[29:04] really rude to treat the public like this and then also, oh and the only one

[29:10] whoever showed up was Rob, I'm not Rob, I'm sorry, Steve Avela, and I spoke with him

[29:17] and he's got a lot of frustrations, but I'm not going to give voice to that on his behalf.

[29:20] But the point is, is that there's a bunch of things that I've been bringing to your attention

[29:25] that other community members have been having outcry about regarding effects on fish and

[29:30] wildlife.

[29:31] They're all tied together, they're all the main like huge wounds that we have is the estuary

[29:37] and problems stemming from the poison in the estuary, from unmitigated pesticides.

[29:43] The pesticides are still being applied.

[29:45] My public records request for notices of intent hasn't been fulfilled for restricted

[29:50] use permitting that is current or renewed, has not been fulfilled.

[29:55] My adverse impact review per food and at code 1400.

[30:00] 9 has been totally ignored. It's a gross abuse of discretion. They're using a loophole because

[30:08] he hasn't given Justin Riggs County Accomissioner because he hasn't given his official determination

[30:12] and he's de facto affirming permits. The appeal to DPR Department of Pesticide Regulation

[30:19] cannot be done. That's what the directors telling me. So they're playing with a stupid loophole

[30:24] and ignoring ecological devastation, economic devastation,

[30:29] human health harms, birds, invertebrates, you know,

[30:33] salminates, which are keystone.

[30:36] All of that is being thrown away.

[30:38] All of these laws are being disregarded.

[30:40] So what I'm asking today since you guys are an invite,

[30:43] and I'm sorry, an appointing body,

[30:46] can you please reappoint these members?

[30:49] They're not taking their service roles on this board seriously

[30:53] And many people in the public are devastated by these things, and if they don't want to serve, other people can serve.

[31:01] Okay, thank you so much.

[31:07] Come on down.

[31:12] My name is Carl Page.

[31:14] I'm a resident of Smith River for over 20 years.

[31:17] Fisheries biologists specializing in natural resource damage assessments throughout the state.

[31:24] Just to clarify, they put over 300,000 pounds of pesticides on the leave yields.

[31:31] every year. Multiply that by decades comes out the thousands of tons.

[31:36] So most pesticide intensive crop in the state. They've done nothing to mitigate it.

[31:43] The Fish and Game Commission talk about foul on the river. The priorities should be the

[31:48] Smith River estuary. We're talking about the ecology of the Smith River, the cleanest

[31:53] river in the United States, and they're allowed to trash it. I'm down there all the time seeing

[31:58] what's happening as the tributaries dump into the river, filamentous algae, just disgusting

[32:04] conditions where those high nutrients and pesticides meet the river.

[32:08] They put 60,000 pounds of copper-based pesticides on those fields every year.

[32:13] Copper depresses the plankton, the whole food chain.

[32:16] No wonder fish and wildlife found that biodiversity in the estuary is surprisingly low.

[32:21] We need to go into restore things. We need cover for fish.

[32:26] In other rivers, like the Matole, they put cover, you know, logs in X, and then the fish

[32:32] can hide in there from the birds, and they've brought back this sound on us.

[32:36] We need to do the same here.

[32:38] We need to copy out the rivers and their success stories and make cover for these fish.

[32:42] There is no cover in that river, especially in the tributaries.

[32:46] We need cover in the tributaries.

[32:48] When you have habitat complexity like logs, you triple the coho population, because they

[32:54] need cover.

[32:54] There is none. They just channelize the creeks. They cut out the riparian. We need to restore this river. Our priorities should be on the Smith, not duck hunting.

[33:05] Thank you.

[33:07] Thank you.

[33:09] No other public comment? I'll close it.

[33:13] And I guess we've made our way through the whole agenda.

[33:17] Okay, with that, I will adjourn it.

[33:19] Thank you.

Board of Supervisors Chambers

Transcript