[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6125679,"mediaKeyId","2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2","parentId",2676425,"title","County employees press board on pay and bargaining process during public comment","audioSeconds",2755,"startMs",7374000,"endMs",10129000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2&start=7374&end=10129","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2/thumbnail_7374000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6125679/Humboldt-County/California/County-employees-press-board-on-pay-and-bargaining-process-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125679-1b760dd5f98c5c6b3e136a1cee7fd2b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178131&Signature=ILd2gRR~NMeiBb~~R5zNpC7yo~-Foj7OVzky4USaGdylHwo-lNJcPOmHpE~FWL8tz8HxI5Ovrj9nY3gg~gXitmK~lQfSUhQe7iCg4xkRK0u3t2LCpQSMDYhpVl-Zyv1vP2-OxvelfeLHwbYIjMGqekWLxtTmDFMDaVkHEVdMl8yD3JeNJbEoi~vzhoKjobkCtaVqNiMcq8RgQHhW7JXw6W8jovvuedbDbsni4ih7MOYlYcyxMYy6i~E7-bl2nJxOFYobasR6vYs76q3k08G0Bc~cTJatw5oRot3wC7WQ6qE6WlzqzeUvVEjd4t5drsdTsRCYZkzBYv-TtCr0s2o5nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Humboldt County CA","date","2025-03-11T23:38:08Z","article","During the public‑comment portion of the March 11 meeting, several county employees and union members addressed the board about labor negotiations, staffing and compensation. Speakers said the county’s bargaining process has been unresponsive and that pay and working conditions are driving turnover and medical leave among critical staff.

What employees said
An Eligibility Specialist and other DHHS staff described operating at 50–70% staffing in recent years, elevated burnout, and hiring challenges. One speaker said a previously offered “me‑too” agreement had been rescinded and characterized that decision as a betrayal after pandemic-era efforts by staff. Employees asked the board to prioritize fair compensation, to rescind the rescinded agreement, and to consider alternative measures — including reduced work hours with no pay cut — to retain staff if additional salary funding is not immediately available.

Board response and closed session notice
Supervisors acknowledged the comments and explained closed session on labor negotiations will occur later in the day; the board read a closed‑session item into the record under California Government Code section 54957.6 for labor negotiations with designated negotiators and stated no reportable action resulted from that closed session.

Why it matters
Speakers told the board that understaffing and low pay directly affect the county’s ability to deliver social services and that continued turnover increases costs and reduces continuity of care. Several speakers asked for equitable treatment across county departments and for recognition of the work performed during and after the pandemic.

Next steps
The board recessed to closed session on labor negotiations and later reported no reportable action taken at the conclusion of the closed session. Union representatives and county negotiators will continue bargaining; employees asked the board to return to the table with offers to improve retention and pay.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Humboldt County Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting, 2025-03-11","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple county employees and union members urged supervisors to provide fair compensation, criticized the bargaining process and asked the board to reinstate a previously offered 'me‑too' agreement; speakers warned of burnout and staffing shortages in departments that deliver critical services.","taxTitle","Humboldt County, California","taxId",12695,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125684,"Board approves two agricultural‑preserve contracts covering roughly 200 acres in Freshwater and Ferndale areas",467,8831000,9298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2&start=8831&end=9298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2/thumbnail_8831000.jpg","/articles/6125684/Humboldt-County/California/Board-approves-two-agriculturalpreserve-contracts-covering-roughly-200-acres-in-Freshwater-and-Ferndale-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125684-6c3c1238cb2a981a0b6a350c47f0b63d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178132&Signature=KLNZAHBvyDOpfpB-eH0hlvRHqUrJeDErJSrvWlWuEiRyTPgm6p-rG-4P0uFv97XdUgXx0ffdiHwVVIExKFqk~3l2bIsa1iwYCZLcgi6X37gzdGC-Nca52-8NAbRyl4G8syk-dnt7incvql4oYpncooETlB~-4CjntLvoY7C4Ul6Zr8CZ0lUWLx5kcZZ85~shYiM4RhzquGTx0WVz9p4kuhvanE1xqWf0bQZfO32QZrYLrLvSHPpwGa8d2wd0vt8AKLWeZccDpDXXbwMThqC~Q8tyhRoO8niAK48JrcB6WxkQjjRWnZ5d-kknfg3zpRvpXfoBr-P5kQX1fqQaPUNZjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Supervisors approved two agricultural preserve and land‑conservation contracts March 11, accepting county staff recommendations to preserve working agricultural land under the California Land Conservation (Williamson Act) framework.

Freshwater property: 02/2015 O’Day family trust
Planning staff recommended, and the board approved, a Class A prime land preservation contract for about 157 acres near Freshwater Road; staff said land uses are grazing and that the county expects a roughly 50% reduction in annual property tax assessments attributable to Williamson Act valuation for this site (from about $11,000 annually to roughly $5,500, per staff estimate). The applicant described river and creek restoration work and collaboration with NRCS and other partners to construct fish-rearing ponds and improve water quality.

Ferndale property
The board also approved an agricultural preserve contract for a Ferndale-area parcel where the applicant has invested in an irrigation pivot and corral infrastructure; staff said those investments support continued agricultural production and water-quality improvements. Both actions were recommended by the Planning Commission (5‑0) and were adopted by the board by unanimous votes.

Why it matters
Williamson Act contracts are long‑standing county tools to keep large parcels in agriculture and reduce pressure to subdivide into residential lots. Staff noted the county’s foregone property-tax revenue on preserved land but said the public benefit includes retained working landscapes, reduced long‑term service costs associated with development, and environmental benefits from active stewardship.

Next steps
County staff will finalize contracts and coordinate with the county assessor’s office to record the valuation changes. Supervisors praised the applicants for investments in conservation and agricultural operations.","Supervisors approved Williamson Act/land conservation contracts for two family properties (approx. 157 acres in Freshwater and 145 acres in Ferndale) intended to preserve grazing and irrigated farmland; both actions passed 5-0 after staff noted tax effects and conservation work on the sites.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125689,"Board revokes 21 cannabis permits over unpaid fees; one permit held in suspension",801,7731000,8532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2&start=7731&end=8532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2/thumbnail_7731000.jpg","/articles/6125689/Humboldt-County/California/Board-revokes-21-cannabis-permits-over-unpaid-fees-one-permit-held-in-suspension","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125689-77eb70b629bc77d62cf0a73ec036dd6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178132&Signature=ktjQKkYB1zBpm525ggLEtXSfe~4BGKaZShYA~YwlIXaZ0T1wt4LCv5dpEJ-P6mXGPyWurfSDwKVfDYwBl6~q6x8pkQ7lrEWZA12EhvNvk7CnNT2VRzLwPM60FUwYeeEhckjXcoGj8wx-rgn2opkUHmHqAUtDsaq4nKiKWzHTskX5CNt6IFnsMX~bVjuociRJ6~d6Fz1P9KieyXjy05xe8zkYEStF0kx0Qp51UyV~gHykN3iO~BbJGMBxeF1hE5HtnRdMCHjQBF2fCd6scKrnLglJIZuV7rQMU3lfc8hO8uSGZx6~ui0VXFsfI5vcX~~2GsclmF1KUiu16L5EPqkOpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Supervisors voted March 11 to revoke 21 cannabis permits for permit‑holders who did not comply with the board’s prior direction to enter payment plans and settle Measure S and planning invoices. One additional permit that staff identified as owing only planning‑department fees — and not Measure S tax — was removed from revocation and remains suspended while fees are pursued.

Background and staff recommendation
Planning and Building told the board the action implements a directive from October 2023 that gave cannabis permit holders a path to remain in compliance by entering payment plans and paying outstanding Measure S assessments and department invoices. Staff said the 22 permits before the board represent permit holders who did not enter payment plans and therefore remain out of compliance; the group included 21 expired state licenses and one revoked state license. Those permits have been suspended since April 20, 2024.

Public comment and enforcement context
Public commenters and the sheriff supported enforcement, noting the county has provided opportunities to come into compliance and that revocation sends a message to operators who remain noncompliant. Staff noted one of the permit files referenced a new property owner who bought the land but not the permit; staff said revocation in that case would not affect the property owner who does not hold the permit.

Board action and next steps
Supervisor Madrone moved to adopt staff recommendations to revoke the 21 permits and to leave the single zoning clearance that owed only planning fees in suspension pending payment. The motion carried 5-0. Planning staff said they will notify permit holders and property owners, and follow the ordinance’s removal rules for cannabis infrastructure where permits are revoked.

Implication
Revocation removes legal county authorization to cultivate under the county permit; staff said revocation will trigger notices requiring removal of cannabis infrastructure and will be enforced according to existing code procedures. Planning indicated the county will continue separate outreach for permit‑holders who entered payment plans but have not finished payments (these cases are scheduled for a later board item).","Following the board’s October 2023 direction, Planning and Building recommended revocation of permits for operators who did not enter payment plans or pay Measure S or planning invoices. Supervisors approved revocation for 21 permits and left one permit suspended pending payment of planning fees.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125693,"Board narrows short‑term rental rules, adds acreage and spacing tests amid housing concerns",3149,4094000,7243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2&start=4094&end=7243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2/thumbnail_4094000.jpg","/articles/6125693/Humboldt-County/California/Board-narrows-shortterm-rental-rules-adds-acreage-and-spacing-tests-amid-housing-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125693-98143f35aee193a044f0db656d71ad17/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178132&Signature=JtWnLgS3kuqy~c9RO7jyHynSvaL4eaVrWl2ruWHFf2ALR50Wpke-oHsnziNnrJxwV8nlvJ5upRmx1AMs9naCQwQWUBXUp7Cgje2384HNFeZGokKaL6PVOwIF~ppO1UejIroEPwMbbMfUzA3GmOUT9tJKv~8ZR8yubqaAAZXlfHJbXGW89iLVy9FhFDtN8bHYFiZRG8ZxoQgB4WA2CoExdIqZT9OffZ2NLER6ufaTMgN5u7ahWZvVw4uiGCz8PGF8ZC8pvTAum1yFu0oiNrMfZ6NoMw0u2x7ZR5Cw1vOu-YSRN89p~toyvOaCeVzTdSZPPXR9cpdUE9o6du2y~4-jaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 March 11 to amend the county’s inland and coastal short‑term rental ordinances, changing how the county treats short‑term rentals on smaller agricultural parcels, adjusting neighborhood-concentration rules and clarifying road‑access standards.

Board action and purpose
The board approved staff’s proposed ordinance changes with several member amendments. The final motion replaced the ordinance’s “nearest 10 houses as the crow flies” neighborhood test with a distance-based test and increased the neighborhood separation radius in the motion to 600 feet from the proposed 300-foot standard; it also added a 2.5‑acre threshold for certain agricultural-zoned parcels and allowed home-share short‑term rentals on smaller agricultural parcels with administrative review. The motion carried 3–2.

Why staff proposed the changes
Planning staff said the amendments respond to implementation problems identified since the short‑term rental rules were adopted. Key changes were intended to:
• Clarify requirement for access roads by changing the standard from “built to category 3 standard” to “functionally equivalent to a category 3 road,” which staff said better reflects local road realities and is interpreted with Public Works input;
• Create exceptions to allow short‑term rentals on some agricultural (AG) parcels that are too small to function as working ag land (different treatment by lot size); and
• Revise neighborhood concentration measures so the earlier “as the crow flies” rule would not link distant neighborhoods.

Board debate: housing vs. land‑use protections
Supervisors debated competing goals: preserve agricultural land and neighborhood character, while avoiding conversion of scarce housing into visitor units. Several supervisors cautioned against making it easier to convert housing stock into short‑term rentals given local housing shortages; others said the revisions recognize small, subdivided AG parcels cannot realistically be farmed and need options for owner income.

Key technical points from staff and Public Works
Planning director John Ford said the road‑standard wording change avoids requiring costly road reconstructions in places where existing roads already function at required capacity. Public Works staff recommended site‑specific reviews using traffic and ITS (Institute of Transportation Studies) standards, noting short‑term rentals on existing homes often produce less traffic than a long‑term household.

Public comment and outcome
Speakers included property owners and community members who urged clear standards, affordable application fees and protection of neighborhood character. After amendments to staff text — chiefly changing the AG carve‑out thresholds and increasing the spacing radius to 600 feet — the board approved the ordinance amendments 3–2. The coastal change will be forwarded to the California Coastal Commission for certification where required.

Next steps
Planning will finalize ordinance language, publish required summaries and transmit the coastal-zone amendment to the Coastal Commission for certification.","Supervisors approved amendments to short-term rental rules for inland and coastal zones, including new acreage carve-outs for agricultural-zoned parcels, a larger neighborhood spacing radius and other technical changes; motion passed 3–2 after extended discussion about housing supply and farm-stay definitions.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125698,"Humboldt supervisors approve two sheriff’s office hires despite countywide hiring freeze",1575,1089000,2664000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2&start=1089&end=2664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2676425-dc35577cbde957bd6317fd73895a56d2/thumbnail_1089000.jpg","/articles/6125698/Humboldt-County/California/Humboldt-supervisors-approve-two-sheriffs-office-hires-despite-countywide-hiring-freeze","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125698-50bb1220fb2f1b760dbef79a7b94ee93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178132&Signature=j8W-P0X059FMhc-odN9SUh~YhdOQE8lpSsh5unL-yoU08c4SwRB9onW6B5oo67giqfDt1JhtDLcjNoLY4M4aR9M-ATrfMjgBB0hS9xHZbL3EZEccEBnZgd8ohUHVOzHSGg-lHitPrOybV7DnsqYb~s-6lCUXOBqqOBLooybPV6JYkVA7UH10NHN5IsEyO92BXwgaVFUqHYrf7SKvHVHwWfUuAxU~ocjEAugT6Yg0eX9bA0VJN0A970ljf~UMSPKhxzxtABJfFMR8LLwXw0p~81352x7b0CGyiiED8v53bCs4P99-OERMdMM4PV0zKe4lXMe8vFUVF3Rk0dFsdmxMgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 11 to grant the sheriff’s office an exception to the countywide hiring freeze so the department can fill two full-time positions: a public information specialist and a property/evidence technician.

The board’s action follows a presentation from the sheriff’s office describing workloads that officials said exceed current staffing and can create liability risks and service gaps. Sheriff (Humboldt County) told the board the public information specialist “coordinates all of our public records and our FOIA requests” and manages critical incident communications, press releases and the sheriff’s transparency portal. He said the office receives “approximately about 250 public records requests a year” and issues “probably 200 to 300 press releases, social media posts every year.”

Why it matters: Board members pressed department leaders on whether the hires are essential at a time the county is trying to reduce general-fund spending. Supporters argued the positions reduce legal risk and costlier outsourcing; critics warned the county must pare staffing to avoid a looming fiscal cliff.

Sheriff’s case and funding details
Sheriff (Humboldt County) said the open public information specialist is a replacement for an existing full‑time position and is distinct from a separate, grant-funded PIO hired under a human‑trafficking grant. He said the departing PIO’s workload — which includes timely responses to public records requests, officer-involved-shooting disclosures, jail-death reporting, and urgent incident communication near schools — requires a dedicated, full-time role.

The sheriff described the property/evidence technician position as largely funded by the county’s Drug Task Force: “We have $56,000 that we get from our Drug Task Force to manage all the Drug Task Force inventory,” the sheriff said, adding that the task force revenues pay most of that job’s cost and that the role is central to maintaining chain of custody for evidence. He said the property unit processes roughly 500 firearms and about 1,200 drug items per year and that meticulous evidence handling is necessary to avoid challenges that could throw out evidence in court.

Board concerns and discussion
Supervisor Wilson, who had pulled the item for discussion, said the timing is difficult because the board has a hiring freeze intended to capture savings through attrition and because the county faces “a fiscal cliff” within roughly a year to 18 months. Wilson asked how the PIO roles differ and whether grant-funded staff overlap with the requested hire. The sheriff said the grant-funded PIO is separate and that the requested hire replaces an existing, county-funded PIO who is leaving at month’s end.

County Administrative Officer Regina explained that the positions are budgeted but remain subject to the board’s hiring-freeze policy, which is intended to hold vacant positions open to produce savings. She said the property technician position is mostly covered by Drug Task Force funds and the Measure Z fund previously paid for a second PIO post.

Public comment and outcome
Members of the public and the sheriff’s office described operational problems when the county lacks a full-time PIO, including delays in incident information and increased liability on public records requests. After discussion, Supervisor Madrone moved to approve the hiring-freeze exception; the motion passed 5-0.

What the board approved
The action authorizes the sheriff’s office to fill two full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions: a public information specialist (county-funded replacement) and a property/evidence technician (predominantly Drug Task Force-funded). The board recorded a 5-0 vote in favor.

Ending note
Supervisors and department leaders repeatedly framed the vote as a balance between fiscal constraints and operational necessity; several members said they expect continued, difficult budget choices in the coming year.

","The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to allow two full-time hires in the sheriff’s office — a public information specialist and a property/evidence technician — after department leaders told the board the posts are critical to records, transparency and evidence chain-of-custody. The property role is largely funded by Drug Task Force funds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County employees press board on pay and bargaining process during public comment

Board approves two agricultural‑preserve contracts covering roughly 200 acres in Freshwater and Ferndale areas

Board revokes 21 cannabis permits over unpaid fees; one permit held in suspension

Board narrows short‑term rental rules, adds acreage and spacing tests amid housing concerns

Humboldt supervisors approve two sheriff’s office hires despite countywide hiring freeze