[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6595621,"mediaKeyId","3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1","parentId",3028350,"title","Board debates rewrite of cannabis buffer‑reduction rules; staff to return with revised ordinance language","audioSeconds",5239,"startMs",9000000,"endMs",14239000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1&start=9000&end=14239","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1/thumbnail_9000000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6595621/Trinity-County/California/Board-debates-rewrite-of-cannabis-bufferreduction-rules-staff-to-return-with-revised-ordinance-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595621-e03675efe5502a5f57aabd597f5c1a3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775920038&Signature=ofT7AB2IeGeS~TIbsiCO-nGPKCL26LdDIfXjAWJ0ewgQesI3nKpibwk1-QDiO6lrt42Fo~R3vtwMAEIWa5KMNnuO01qdKflSfAppYoNFEGxDbaCmlRkuNmHAHAh1iUWJS~EqkYLfhMWfbZBvuxKjjGwS1Wr4g3M1FQQxA3RRZIcaqWaOVNBEaYlWAgg1c08y9Q7PNxG0A-w-FbnW1Es~~eWxGDxTWgB6m4o~Qavv-r~tK9mb6PW0aR8gyp46YuqiupDGPISLnHy633nX1TMeb8bBQ4RPyeeIEhYwpNO2BXFnVWemU-~85C7m2cQ6XKfBnT7Dvrte8Z88YNXo7bG1eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T00:31:10.387Z","article","At its April 1 meeting the Trinity County Board of Supervisors held the first reading of an ordinance to amend county code related to commercial cannabis cultivation (Trinity County Code sections 17.43 and 17.32). The proposed changes would alter how the county handles administrative buffer‑reduction (ABR) requests when neighboring property owners file opposition.

Drew Pobani, director of the county’s cannabis division, told the board that the draft changes were prompted by a Planning Commission appeal in which staff found the current code’s process left little room for a fact‑based planning commission review. Under the proposal presented to the board, a qualified opposition letter from an affected neighbor would prompt a hearing before the Planning Commission rather than an automatic administrative denial by staff. Pobani said the change was intended to allow the Planning Commission to weigh facts and make an objective determination.

Board members debated how to define legacy cultivation sites eligible for an administrative buffer reduction, whether new cultivation applicants should be eligible for buffer exceptions, and how to confirm whether an opposing property is a legal residence. During the discussion the board and staff agreed to amend language that references “legacy” sites to focus definitionally on sites that were licensed within the six months prior to the ordinance’s adoption and to use the term “dwelling” where the code now refers to “residential structure” so the definition aligns with county definitions of permitted or grandfathered dwellings.

Public commenters and business owners urged both predictability for existing cultivators and care in protecting new neighbors. Ben Kellogg (Weaverville) urged the county to end what he described as stigma against cannabis and to move forward in support of economic development. Other commenters, including Veronica Kelly Albee and Adrian Keyes, urged clarity in the process and care that neighbors, whether residents or longstanding businesses, have an opportunity to be heard.

After an extended session in which supervisors, county staff and public speakers identified additional language changes and questions about how in‑progress applications should be treated, the board directed staff to redraw the ordinance language to reflect the clarifications discussed and to bring the item back for final action at a subsequent meeting. CAO Jeremiah Tuthill recommended returning the item with fully written language for the board’s second reading and the board agreed to receive the revised ordinance at a future meeting.

Why it matters: the county’s ABR rules affect whether existing or new cultivation areas can be sited within 350 feet of a legal dwelling, a question that affects neighborhood relations, public complaints about odor/sound/security, and the path to licensure for existing growers.

Quotes: “What we’re trying to do is update this subsection to simply say that if a qualified opposition was received, that it would be scheduled for a hearing by the Planning Commission,” Pobani said. Public commenter Ben Kellogg said, “Let’s get the stigma off of cannabis. Let’s move forward in the spirit of economic development.”

Ending: Staff will return with revised ordinance text that reflects the board’s directed changes and clarifications; the item will come back for a future second reading and final action once the language is posted and available for public review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors Meeting 4/1/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Trinity County Board of Supervisors held a first reading April 1 of a proposed ordinance to amend county code governing administrative buffer reductions for commercial cannabis cultivation and directed staff to return with revised, clarified language for a later second reading.","taxTitle","Trinity County, California","taxId",26843,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6595629,"County staff green-light Golden State Connect Authority to seek federal‑state broadband funds for Trinity",3765,628000,4393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1&start=628&end=4393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1/thumbnail_628000.jpg","/articles/6595629/Trinity-County/California/County-staff-green-light-Golden-State-Connect-Authority-to-seek-federalstate-broadband-funds-for-Trinity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595629-e224f3313a04fefb1a111f2eb9905e32/orig.mp4?Expires=1775920038&Signature=XMJ5Va4TEkCA9ralGsaKUJsGpqKxZ4lOYiSax1N6c5iFT9wXV9jEvvnK3cgMoBxAR6RGgRM4sv9WzEXQnFojxB5sMPnITNRlzsJZXaMIxErHcHCzGcnfNyXE5u48h4RgJgz2Fiw7fIJTJpoyCWR1li0JtBcdGQf8A9q2gRdE-cfRfPqviYDoqbXU1l-DqwnCydDuCyejukESX-Ar7R0zIlZKH8wVd8LQp-pV4szc9n4T-yS0PYFeBlNC9hl1vtJOMNZlrxtbJ5OJBw5EgKQEhuCDE2sLeAmxQ0TmLgmdyi05JQevkl0gaqvPQPRfJg7qZYQZy5X9ehueEmSxFHpMhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Trinity County Board of Supervisors heard a detailed briefing April 1 from Barbara Hayes of the Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) on federal and state broadband funding opportunities and a plan to apply on behalf of the county for federal‑funded last‑mile projects.

GSCA, a joint powers authority that represents many of California’s rural counties, is preparing applications for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Federal Fund Account (FFA) last‑mile round 2 and is also evaluating opportunities under the federal BEAD program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Barbara Hayes said the county did not participate in FFA round 1 and that GSCA is now working to identify unserved addresses in Trinity County to include in a proposed project area and submit an FFA round 2 application if the county supports it.

Hayes said the FFA round‑2 application window had not yet been formally announced but was expected in April and to remain open for a short, two‑week period. She told supervisors that the CPUC is likely to issue award recommendations for the remaining six eligible counties in August or September and that construction would follow, likely in the spring after awards are finalized. “Our goal is to get to as many unserved addresses as possible with our fiber open access network,” she said.

GSCA described an open‑access, municipal fiber model in which the joint powers authority would finance, construct, own and operate middle‑ and last‑mile fiber infrastructure and then invite retail providers onto the network to sell service to customers. Hayes said GSCA will focus on fiber but expects fixed wireless and satellite providers to be able to use the fiber backbone for backhaul to reach the most remote locations.

CAO Jeremiah Tuthill told the board he authorized GSCA to pursue the grant application on Trinity County’s behalf; he said the county was not committing funds at this stage. “There is no financial commitment for it,” Tuthill said, adding that the county’s action was meant to give Trinity “a foot in the door” for round 2 consideration.

Supervisors pressed for details about how project areas would be chosen and how remote southern portions of the county might be served. Hayes said GSCA’s engineers are using CPUC map layers and other data to build technically and financially viable project areas, and that a practical starting point for fiber work would likely be along the state middle‑mile corridor that follows Highway 299. She also said some very remote addresses are better served by fixed wireless or satellite and that GSCA is designing regional networks to leave capacity at the edges for those modalities to hook into fiber backhaul.

Public comment echoed that mix of hopes and caution. Ben Kellogg of Weaverville urged the county to remain engaged and noted that Starlink (satellite) may already be rationing accounts in rural areas; he said Starlink’s inclusion as an eligible BEAD applicant could help residents if Starlink applies.

Why it matters: GSCA’s proposed open‑access approach aims to lower the cost of broadband deployment in sparsely populated areas by pooling capital and offering multiple retail provider choices on a publicly owned backbone. The timing is compressed if the CPUC opens a two‑week application window; county staff and GSCA asked for local letters of support and contact information to finalize project scoping.

Key details and next steps: GSCA expects to submit FFA round‑2 applications in April if the CPUC opens its window; award recommendations for the small group of counties that did not receive round‑1 awards are expected in August–September. GSCA is also preparing BEAD applications, but the BEAD program uses census block groups and requires 100% service of unserved/underserved locations within an applied‑for block group and a 25% cash match, both of which complicate applications in very rural areas. County staff said they will share proposed project boundaries with supervisors as soon as GSCA’s engineering team finalizes them.

Quotes: “Our goal is to get to as many unserved addresses as possible with our fiber open access network,” Barbara Hayes said. CAO Jeremiah Tuthill said he had authorized GSCA to pursue the grant application on Trinity’s behalf and stressed that the authorization carried “no financial commitment.”

Ending: GSCA and county staff said they will return to the board with proposed project boundaries and request local letters of support; supervisors and staff emphasized the county’s need to be strategic about where fiber is built and to plan for complementary fixed‑wireless or satellite solutions for the most remote addresses.","The Trinity County Board of Supervisors heard April 1 that Golden State Connect Authority will prepare applications for the CPUC’s Federal Fund Account last‑mile round 2 and for BEAD funding, and that the agency will work with county staff to scope fiber project areas and collect local support letters if the CPUC opens a short application window this month.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6595614,"Votes at a glance: consent calendar approved; planning commissioner appointment confirmed",275,8720000,8995000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1&start=8720&end=8995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1/thumbnail_8720000.jpg","/articles/6595614/Trinity-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-consent-calendar-approved-planning-commissioner-appointment-confirmed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595614-8de9f6c08aa5eadca375cedd8fd44043/orig.mp4?Expires=1775920038&Signature=KOmYsfWXYxlyPX0wk3ND9LmMDKQpyCDZ~FnqZaZZ1b-V2MAmuDgWpbXohYBFHh4yQRSqQHcALfRwkKl153n2YwgWU5jqkKzlKhCX8f4v3tbqOiysAnD0PXqRzzeyShwDtiFB-jY-OG9ZABkPGwW1H3Ja1g~OccwFeuXAsj8gyCkyT-jX9B4gvflSPgHnzWaoCtBg-1YHJz3R4Joc5rvaOqdO-XgeT-n6irloIs9D7jQDd8LCBSZL3tgpJHvhZQ3xJM8yTconO6-pgtnpy9mavGkf7vDBWjGZyPt5hC0IWXIVqMmLw4ImVLurklyvJ-NfOdEU~amqW7uTfJnj6g4FQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Trinity County Board of Supervisors took the following recorded actions at its April 1 meeting.

- Consent calendar: The board approved the consent calendar by roll call. Recorded votes in the meeting transcript show all supervisors voting \"Aye.\" The consent calendar included routine items and a medical services contract for the county detention facility among other standard administrative matters.

- Appointment: The board appointed Duncan McIntosh as Planning Commissioner for District 4 to serve a term concurrent with the District 4 supervisorial term. The meeting record shows supervisors voting aye on the appointment.

- Cannabis ordinance (E2): The board conducted a first reading and substantial discussion of proposed amendments to Trinity County Code sections 17.43 and 17.32 (commercial cannabis cultivation and use permit procedures). Following extended public comment and board debate, supervisors directed staff to revise the ordinance language to reflect clarifications discussed at the meeting and to return the item for a future second reading and final vote. No final adoption was recorded for the ordinance at this meeting.

Why it matters: The consent calendar action advances routine county business; the Planning Commissioner appointment fills a local board vacancy on the county planning body; the cannabis code amendments, still under consideration, could change administrative and appeal processes for cultivation licenses.

Ending: Staff will post updated items and return the cannabis ordinance for a future vote. The county clerk will publish actions and updated agendas as required.","At its April 1 meeting the Trinity County Board of Supervisors approved the consent calendar and appointed Duncan McIntosh as Planning Commissioner for District 4; the board also took direction to staff on a cannabis ordinance and other agenda items.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6595625,"U.S. Forest Service reports progress on Shasta‑Trinity projects, recreation and fuels work",837,4425000,5262000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1&start=4425&end=5262","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028350-deb9ae9429784c3d7eb36b10782a24c1/thumbnail_4425000.jpg","/articles/6595625/Trinity-County/California/US-Forest-Service-reports-progress-on-ShastaTrinity-projects-recreation-and-fuels-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595625-ec826346baa9442c066c983c56af92cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775920038&Signature=A9KKhlg5KxHdYboLi~EbcMJsUMmzGT8myDoGNWJoLWiRhS~b3GYR3Jvyxl3voIOsMZdypc0oavHOuffPlxWcqZslGJJF7x0lUulunuhP9ys19pDimPX4TPRXc5frjjxjUBIQXJdw8dCuSps0C5W1v-vBoVYrT~2KYy0zQYzASkoX3UTehQv46oqa9r7YoQ4JpPli~TLzNb-BlnKkkbdwh0C9W5FVt6hxOdr-fl6nTIEVy603uoS6Tn3O04PbGLeA4yeGL5DvStRzaaBOgOE1zIyjV3N4zfMiG5a6JsQVHHMzIjwmD71tA1tM4J72MXViF7W~7BYsxthVlyNo~gIX7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A U.S. Forest Service representative updated the Trinity County Board of Supervisors April 1 on planning, implementation, staffing and recreation work across the Shasta‑Trinity National Forest.

The speaker reported that several planning documents are nearing completion: the Hyampom project (12,500 acres of planning) is signed and implementation was set to begin the week following the meeting; the Bowerman Ridge CE is expected to be signed shortly; and the Big Ranch project will enter scoping in May. The Forest Service representative also said the North Trinity County project is under review with partners and that WCF (Watershed/Climate/Fuels) phase 2 arc surveys are underway pending improved weather.

Implementation updates included ongoing pile burning (about 1,400 acres so far), fuels work tied to Good Neighbor Agreements with industry partners, and a large fuels contract addressing past fire footprints. The Forest Service said it expects to use both internal crews and contract resources and that crews and hotshot teams are approaching full staffing for the fire season.

In recreation, the Forest Service told the board it removed about 40 dump‑truck loads of vegetation and debris from the Fairview boat ramp area and completed cleanup work at Preacher Meadows and Hayward campgrounds. The agency also reported work to control invasive Scotch broom and to prepare recreation assets for the summer season. They noted an ongoing transfer of management responsibility for Lewiston Lake and Trinity Lake recreation facilities to the local forest office.

The speaker said training for staff and partner organizations is scheduled in April and that the agency is coordinating with local fire advisers and partners to prepare for summer operations.

Why it matters: fuel reduction, recreation site readiness and NEPA approvals affect public safety, local tourism and forest health across a large portion of Trinity County, where most forest land is federally managed.

Quotes: “When all those [Hyampom, Bowerman, WCF phase 2] get signed prior to summer, that will give us 18,000 acres of NEPA coverage,” the Forest Service representative told the board.

Ending: County supervisors thanked the Forest Service for the work and noted regional interest in projects such as Big Ranch and the I Am POD project; the Forest Service said it will continue to schedule partner briefings and report progress to the board.

","The U.S. Forest Service told the Trinity County Board of Supervisors that NEPA planning, pile burning, crew hiring and recreation cleanups are moving forward across the Shasta‑Trinity National Forest, and that several landscape projects will enter implementation this summer.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board debates rewrite of cannabis buffer‑reduction rules; staff to return with revised ordinance language

County staff green-light Golden State Connect Authority to seek federal‑state broadband funds for Trinity

Votes at a glance: consent calendar approved; planning commissioner appointment confirmed

U.S. Forest Service reports progress on Shasta‑Trinity projects, recreation and fuels work