[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6566452,"mediaKeyId","3204962-7c2574aeeb428c49fa65c3fdbf37137c","parentId",3204962,"title","Supervisors introduce ordinance banning sale of recreational nitrous oxide; amend tobacco retail license rules","audioSeconds",86,"startMs",9163000,"endMs",9249000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204962-7c2574aeeb428c49fa65c3fdbf37137c&start=9163&end=9249","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204962-7c2574aeeb428c49fa65c3fdbf37137c/thumbnail_9163000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566452/Humboldt-County/California/Supervisors-introduce-ordinance-banning-sale-of-recreational-nitrous-oxide-amend-tobacco-retail-license-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566452-ddbe3cc67fa0a0951e15b2608af4fe03/orig.mp4?Expires=1770420609&Signature=PFoJQXWju-3vkK31iU-gM8YtnMo0laen1EVMwTf4WAANiIJwNjN0o4Or2t1GPf2bds7saFZAKPmaH2MYGT-BleGNx5jjAbzOtVIyTDlP-GUZcYbu792U~d78ULRz8GlhvH4BIPDm2HnWxwfyvefJtYqPZsQsA4gBIkc1UGlE~ov-v2d7~~87ibLjJ1Ixe9UZB7sLsYBX6NrMKsXmRQumL5wi3keZ-TG9SfQdKTNh1kbTznDXluFEh68gmJxiJQD6xd53NmK5m0-W3xcxlM3W6sG0dlde2BFB24xqwIb704LtVelG28LMdrms~f1-mfbYKKNimjZeuo27jX1yee0i9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-07T00:56:01.317Z","article","The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on May 6 introduced a proposed ordinance that would ban the sale of nitrous oxide and related paraphernalia for recreational use in unincorporated parts of the county, and separately approved an amendment to the county's Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) ordinance that ties license revocation to violations of the proposed ban.

Public Health Director Sofia Pereira and Healthy Communities manager Brianna Sherlock presented the item as the outcome of a multi-month retail landscape analysis and intergovernmental coordination with city managers. The county's substance-use prevention staff visited 44 retailers across the region and found nitrous oxide products in plain sight at 24 of the outlets visited, chiefly smoke shops and some specialty food or chef stores.

Sherlock summarized health risks connected with recreational nitrous oxide use, noting short-term effects such as dizziness, blurred vision and sedation and longer-term risks including vitamin B12 depletion, nerve and brain damage, and potential reproductive harm. \"Recreational prolonged or short term use of recreational nitrous oxide can have both short and long term effects,\" Sherlock said.

The draft county ordinance would ban sale of canisters (\"whippets\"), crackers and nitrous oxide tanks in unincorporated Humboldt County. The proposal includes enforcement options such as misdemeanor prosecution, a public-nuisance remedy and revocation of business licenses; the TRL amendment would add revocation of a tobacco retail license as a discrete enforcement tool for licensed tobacco retailers who violate the nitrous ban. County counsel and environmental health staff noted the county does not currently have an administrative-citation system for retailers; cities considering similar measures may add administrative citations at the city level if they choose.

Supervisors were briefed on implementation work: the public health team reported that tribal jurisdictions were briefed through United Indian Health Services and that city managers across the county were involved in discussions intended to align approaches for sharper regional impact. Pereira said the county secured federal substance-use prevention funding that enabled staff to conduct the retail analysis and develop the proposed ordinance.

The board introduced the nitrous oxide ordinance for adoption at a subsequent meeting and approved the TRL amendment on the same agenda. Votes recorded were 4-0 in favor of the TRL amendment and the motion to move the ordinance forward for adoption.

Clarifying details: staff said the landscape analysis surveyed 44 retail outlets, with 24 selling nitrous oxide products in plain sight and 18 of those identified as smoke shops; data collection avoided tribal lands. Enforcement tools in the draft include misdemeanor prosecution with fines and jail terms, public-nuisance remedies and TRL revocation for licensed tobacco retailers. The county noted that clinical and culinary uses of nitrous oxide (for example, whipped cream in sealed consumer cans and dental/medical sedation) would remain permissible; the ban targets sales for recreational inhalant use.

Staff will return with the ordinance for final adoption at the board's next scheduled meeting and will work with city staffs and tribal partners on implementation and outreach to retailers.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Humboldt County Board of Supervisors - 2025-05-06","oneSentenceSummary","Humboldt County introduced and scheduled adoption of a countywide ordinance that would ban retail sales of recreational nitrous oxide in unincorporated areas and approved an amendment to the county's Tobacco Retail Licensing rules to make license revocation an enforcement tool.","taxTitle","Humboldt County, California","taxId",12695,"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},6566457,"Board sends letter opposing potential release and Manila placement of civilly committed violent predator",363,3026000,3389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204962-7c2574aeeb428c49fa65c3fdbf37137c&start=3026&end=3389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204962-7c2574aeeb428c49fa65c3fdbf37137c/thumbnail_3026000.jpg","/articles/6566457/Humboldt-County/California/Board-sends-letter-opposing-potential-release-and-Manila-placement-of-civilly-committed-violent-predator","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566457-a1b130382b1cb3d9dbc4acae49815685/orig.mp4?Expires=1770420609&Signature=c6RjAq39mfDxhI4BCgNU9b4Y~--3Df631cBpAGT2nagjSqh6Z91PAu-Cc-pUrY0mDzVfea5Vh4v-g0K1NxbLCvEQW3QFTgohgIJzzQtGM1YLkfBLHJORM1EFSQjHlAynvRI3WoZ1EUAEIEQdaWLSRw7H21bgAxsY2EEf-iXXGFFDFcwwV1OwPr3y4C0Psr7K~A3JUda8hp7eTmzECnYha5L4CqixiJOHwuCsCY9XNuQtduEGj-vv-7tdi~Cb-DLIbq2DNE0I1doWyyVdIMcLCJ2SF-1fJtPD6H2DjKfYxTE~WiEFAknbajsZI1iJF6p8YfJKDsdziBECun-TEkZ0Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on May 6 to send a formal letter to the court opposing the proposed conditional release and placement of a civilly committed violent predator, Richard Stobaugh, into the community of Manila.

District Attorney Stacy Eads and Chief Baxley of the Sheriff's Office addressed the board and the public to outline the county's objections. Eads summarized Stobaugh's criminal history and civil commitment: a jury adjudicated him a sexually violent predator after convictions dating back to 1981, and a court had committed him to a State Hospital. Eads said the district attorney's office continues to oppose his release, saying the county believes he remains \"a dangerous individual that is likely to reoffend if returned to the community.\" The DA asked community members to submit personal letters to the court in addition to the county's statement.

Chief Baxley told the board she found the Manila property assessment provided by the contractor managing conditional releases to be subjective and said the proposed site understates the presence of bus stops, schools, day cares and public spaces. \"Manila is not the place for him,\" she said, urging the board to oppose placement there.

Community members and residents from Manila, Arcata and neighboring areas packed the meeting and gave repeated testimony about fear, proximity to dunes and beaches where cell reception can be poor, and long emergency response times from the Sheriff's Office. Multiple speakers referenced an estimated 16-minute sheriff response time from the proposed site and stressed that intermittent cell reception could impair GPS monitoring of an electronic tether.

Eads and county staff outlined the court schedule: the next day the court could hear a motion to continue a placement hearing at 8:30 a.m., with a public calendar set for 10:15 a.m. The district attorney encouraged residents to file letters and attend the hearing; Eads said the court had received hundreds of letters and a petition with more than 450 signatures opposing the Manila placement.

After public comment, the board voted to send a letter to the court opposing the proposed placement and urging the court to consider public safety and monitoring limitations in making release determinations. The vote was recorded as unanimous.

Clarifying details: the DA said Stobaugh was adjudicated a sexually violent predator by jury in February 2016 and committed to Coalinga State Hospital after earlier convictions; the community was given an opportunity to address the court during the scheduled calendar (a motion to continue was to be heard at 08:30 with the public calendar at 10:15). County staff and the Sheriff's Office cited the Manila location's semi-rural character, proximity to schools and parks and potential gaps in cell and GPS monitoring as reasons the site is inappropriate.

The county's letter is intended as a formal expression of community concern and is not a judicial filing but will be included in the public record sent to the court. Eads asked individuals with personal impacts to file separate victim impact letters and, if possible, appear in court on the calendar the following day.","Following community meetings and public comment, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to send a letter opposing the conditional release and proposed placement of a civilly committed violent predator, citing public safety concerns about the Manila site and monitoring limitations.",{"_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},6566462,"Supervisors approve bid award for Garberville veterans hall after years of debate, 4-1",5110,7586000,12696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204962-7c2574aeeb428c49fa65c3fdbf37137c&start=7586&end=12696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204962-7c2574aeeb428c49fa65c3fdbf37137c/thumbnail_7586000.jpg","/articles/6566462/Humboldt-County/California/Supervisors-approve-bid-award-for-Garberville-veterans-hall-after-years-of-debate-4-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566462-4c9f5a4914ceced6f5a99533471b75d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770420609&Signature=AiBkTBNH6ZVTYNs0SOJXNMRi0CEtQx8pIrlU9oor6s4B2CtarD57E84O3IHhHqIRt5~I5d6G6J9BO4Cebh~U4ZBlBgrh7Wa-a3ZmxvFZziju3jnCES-rw~QZmqcwxxmm0IxD62SlX6KTII1kWfka8MogJurTBQlKJVzSuezTAQxEwBbS4vF5AIj4AxCe5HUUzc6Mhi43zIigXoO9QKh067Cm~6FYv~6LKUmAP0h3RIAP8gdSuY7FcQNozuEjnR2apvpqyP32P7Y4QPKaDf~jOJIn2FeeuexeT1bm300ZifH8pYdOwTjpiKkvlAXkw~S4ZxsB9LPACcjlvd5tVkh0Qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on May 6 to approve awarding the construction contract for the John Haines Veterans Memorial Building project in Garberville, moving forward with a project county staff said was \"shovel-ready\" after years of planning and demolition work.

Public Works Director Tom Matson told the board the county holds the property for use as a veterans building and that the project team had reduced the previously presented cost estimate by about $1 million, roughly a 17% reduction. \"We are ready to to build this facility and we are recommending that you approve this so we can move it forward,\" Matson said.

Supporters, including veterans and community organizations, told supervisors the hall had been the social and civic heart of Garberville and urged the board to approve construction. Speakers described the hall's past role hosting community dinners, civic meetings and emergency staging. \"This was the center for civic participation in Garberville,\" said Douglas Curtis, a longtime resident who listed uses ranging from candidate forums to emergency response gatherings.

Opponents and one supervisor said the county should pause to pursue other options because of tight county finances. Supervisor Mike Wilson said he had voted to advance earlier steps in the project but would oppose fully funding construction in this manner now. \"I will be voting no on this as proposed,\" Wilson said, citing the county's structural deficit, limited staff to manage a large construction project and the possibility of leveraging outside funding or acquiring an existing downtown building instead.

Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, who brought the item forward, argued Garberville had a long-standing promise tied to the donated property and that the county had already invested in demolition, design and management. \"We have promised them for 10 years that we're going to do something,\" she said, urging the board to finish the project.

Board discussion focused on the trade-offs: the need to honor past commitments to veterans and to restore a community facility versus the risks of rising construction costs, contingency use and limited county staff capacity for project oversight. Matson said the county typically keeps change orders low and that the awarded contractor had bid with current prices in mind; he also said the project team had reduced estimated costs through intensive project management.

The board approved the bid award with a 4-1 tally. The record shows four votes in favor and one against; the motion carried. Matson told the board staff expected to break ground \"soon.\" A 10% construction contingency was included in the project budget; supervisors stressed they expect staff to manage the contract tightly.

The project remains subject to budget controls and any change orders that exceed the contingency would require further board approval. Proponents said the completed hall will serve veterans and the broader Southern Humboldt community for events, election polling and emergency operations; critics said the county should weigh alternative locations or leverage more outside funding to avoid strain on county finances.

Clarifying details: county staff reported the project cost had been reduced by about $1,000,000 (a roughly 17% reduction) since the board's last presentation; the department is budgeting a 10% contingency for change orders; the county has already spent several hundred thousand dollars on demolition, design and project management (staff said roughly $680,000 had been spent on preconstruction efforts). Matson said construction management and contingency practices were intended to limit cost overruns, but board members warned the contingency could be consumed by routine change orders if not strictly managed.

The board vote and the award finish a long-running local debate over whether to repair the original hall or build a new facility on the donated lot; proponents argued the donated site and the veterans' historical ties to the property weigh in favor of construction there. The board did not vote at the meeting to transfer ownership to a veterans group; the county retains title under the donation terms.

The board's approval authorizes staff to proceed with contract execution and preliminary scheduling; Matson and staff indicated they would return to the board if any change order exceeded the authorized contingency or if the board's four-fifths approval threshold was required for contract adjustments.","Humboldt County supervisors voted 4-1 to award the construction contract for the John Haines Veterans Memorial Building in Garberville, approving staff's recommendation despite concerns about cost, contingency and downtown vitality raised during public comment and by one supervisor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Supervisors introduce ordinance banning sale of recreational nitrous oxide; amend tobacco retail license rules

Board sends letter opposing potential release and Manila placement of civilly committed violent predator

Supervisors approve bid award for Garberville veterans hall after years of debate, 4-1