Shasta County Board of Supervisors Agenda Preview 10-29-2024

Today the Breakdown looks ahead to the 10-29-2024 Board of Supervisor Agenda. We will be going over the Agenda packet and possible implications of decisions made during this meeting.

Transcript

Welcome to the North State Breakdown with Benjamin Nowian. Today, I'd like to go over the agenda for the upcoming Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting on October 29th, 2024. Let's start with the regular calendar.

Regular Calendar

R1: Proclamation for CPR and AED Training

Sponsored by Supervisor Crye, this item is to adopt a proclamation recognizing the importance of CPR and automated external defibrillator training in our community. Considering heart issues can strike at any time, encouraging more people to get trained could be a real lifesaver. This proclamation aims to increase awareness and encourage participation in community training programs, potentially saving lives during emergencies, when every second counts.

R2: CEO Updates and Board Reports

The CEO will be giving updates, and the supervisors will be delivering board reports.

R3: Appointment of Ashley Jones as Public Defender

A resolution will appoint Ashley Jones as the public defender, effective November 3rd. She has been with the department for over 14 years, which could be a good opportunity to bring institutional knowledge into leadership. However, it's critical to ensure the public defender remains an independent body, free from political influence.

R4: Financial Presentation from Health and Human Services

This one's been on the agenda a few times, but it's been repeatedly postponed. It is particularly interesting because many believe that it's tied to the firing of former CFO Rahsaan Dean, who reported discovering financial irregularities during his tenure in HHSA. After bringing these issues to management, he was promptly terminated. Will this item stay on the agenda this time, or will it get postponed again? Definitely worth watching.

R5: Proposals for Opioid Settlement Funds

This item involves supervisors presenting their proposals for using the opioid litigation settlement funds. Previously, Mary Rickert was denied a spot on an ad hoc committee to oversee this, so now each supervisor is coming up with their own plan. The board's majority—Crye, Jones, and Kelstrom—seem to be trying to push their agendas, sidelining Rickert's extensive experience in the opioid crisis. Given that we're just days away from the election, this could be more about optics than real solutions.

R6 & R7: Public Hearings on Vacating Utility Easements

These items involve conducting public hearings regarding vacating public utility easements in the Three Box Ranch Road and Keswick areas. The timing of these hearings—just before Patrick Jones leaves office—raises questions. Could they be connected to Measure P, the imminent domain ballot measure? The proximity to the election and Jones' departure suggests there could be a strategic motive here, possibly linked to future development plans or efforts to clear the way for specific projects.

R8: Zone Amendment for Shipping Containers

This item covers a zone amendment. The Planning Commission recommended denying the proposed shipping container zone amendment on October 10, 2024, with a unanimous 5-0 vote. However, the Shasta County Board majority could still push this forward. Supervisor Crye had previously sent this back to the Planning Commission after they recommended denying the larger containers, hoping that the smaller containers would be approved. Watch for whether the board overrides the Planning Commission's unanimous decision. It could indicate some personal interests at play.

R9: Geographic Name Changes

R9 is about replacing certain geographic names related to the Natural Resource Agency. It might seem minor, but it's always worth noting how the board responds to issues like these.

Consent Calendar

There are 23 items on the Consent Calendar this week, including approving budget amendments, agreements with the California Department of Forestry for fire protective equipment, and contracts for mental health services. Let's cover some of what I consider to be the more notable items.

• C5: Agreement with Ellis Investigations Law Corporation

  This is an agreement with Ellis Investigations Law Corporation, which previously investigated the handling of the Attorney General's letter involving Patrick Jones and Kevin Crye. The investigation found no wrongdoing by Jones, but Crye's role was left unexamined. According to the investigation, Crye was aware of the letter and chose not to disclose it to the public, raising concerns about transparency and proper conduct. This lack of disclosure, especially in his role as a public official, suggests a potential failure in maintaining accountability—something to keep in mind as more funds are allocated to the Ellis Corporation.

  
  

• C23: Hiring Sign-On Bonus for Legal Positions

  This resolution is to adopt a hiring sign-on bonus for Deputy District Attorneys and Deputy Public Defenders, which are in desperate need in Shasta County.

  
  

Public Comment

Next up is public comment, which is likely to be heated, especially with the election just days away. Expect election deniers and calls against voting machines driven by misinformation from figures like Tina Peters, Douglas Frank, and Mike Lindell. If you believe in our election systems and the hard work of our local staff, consider showing up to support them.

IHSS Public Authority Governing Board

The Board will also convene as the IHSS Public Authority Governing Board. IHSS workers provide essential care for family members and loved ones, helping them stay at home rather than in costly care facilities. There's no specific items listed, but it's worth keeping an eye on anything that might affect these vital services.

Closed Session

For the closed session, item R10 includes labor negotiations with the United Public Employees of California, Local 792, which represents many county employees—a union I was proud to be a part of. Given the timing so close to the election, any decisions made in closed session could have significant implications for the county's future.

Final Reminder

Lastly, I would like to remind citizens of Shasta County that Election Day is on November 5th, and it is extremely important that we are engaged in our local government. If you haven't yet, make a plan to vote. If you suspect any fraudulent activity or intimidation when voting, please contact Kevin Khasigian, the election officer appointed to our county, to report issues at 916-554-2723. You may also contact our local election office at 530-225-5730.

Attending these board meetings as often as I do, it feels like there's a rush to push things through before the election, perhaps hoping the public won't notice. But that's what I'm here for—to make sure you see what's on the agenda and understand the implications.

And that's the agenda preview.