[{"_1":2,"_114":-5,"_115":-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",[32,74,84,94,104],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6473679,"mediaKeyId","5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac","parentId",5744721,"title","Supervisors approve county response to grand jury review of Planning & Building, direct staff to follow up on fire-code issue with Cal Fire","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",17481000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac&start=17481&end=17481","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac/thumbnail_17481000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6473679/Mendocino-County/California/Supervisors-approve-county-response-to-grand-jury-review-of-Planning-Building-direct-staff-to-follow-up-on-fire-code-issue-with-Cal-Fire","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473679-d8b4e8855cb765847752beca1c34b27c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770435613&Signature=Vj4DhdLXmHF62EwBTG7PhbUtiSWDTHvBrMtETXR7WICuamxtpfonTAvb4r7f3Xdp1CYYZs9ZwERTUDtuXXf9z3YH57iAjzMMR-XBiZ-jBgt1NujqCnTS~pPZNx4TAI9sNP7G9CEr9ANec8Q6sZ0Pc4Wa4cmHbGQFjYuWowJLY1snYGmbTYKUQoa1QJNRksKINy8EQKpBZRjVAGLWxBChNKHaqTk27pjV9~6jELysk5Ty-aZKUyQPJwlwhbRXqISHCc~F1bzNnU9Rmkxkg0bz2pYwKOBJu50wHgXoioH-gSWD8cebhdGCJF8gqY09GhqW8EY~D0AcHlPpjaekKSdESw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mendocino County CA","date","2025-09-10T00:41:48Z","article","The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 9 approved the County's required response to the 2024-25 Grand Jury report examining structural issues in the Planning and Building Services department.

County counsel presented the Board's written responses to each grand jury finding and recommendation, noting the response had to be filed by the statutory 90-day deadline. Board members had earlier formed an ad hoc committee to prepare the substantive reply and consulted with department leadership and county counsel.

During public comment and Board discussion, concerns were raised about a specific finding related to the county's approach to PRC 4290 (state defensible-space and fire-safe regulations) and whether Planning & Building's practices aligned with state code. Public speakers, including a former Cal Fire employee, argued the county must enforce PRC 4290 in full for preexisting structures in the State Responsibility Area, not merely rely on annual defensible-space forms.

Board direction and action: The Board approved the response unanimously and asked Planning & Building to follow up expeditiously to clarify whether county practice aligns with state law. The Board instructed Planning & Building to consult Cal Fire and return within a month with any corrective actions or a plan; county counsel also noted a limited statutory window exists for seeking clarification from the grand jury if necessary.

Process note: The Board added a correction to the summary form accompanying the response (to include a missing finding number) before submission. The approval completed the county's formal reply obligation under Penal Code 933.05.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors 9/9/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board unanimously approved its formal response to the 2024-25 Mendocino County Grand Jury report on Planning and Building Services and directed Planning & Building to return within a month with clarification and, if needed, coordinated action with Cal Fire on PRC 4290 implementation.","taxTitle","Mendocino County, California","taxId",18012,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6473683,"Supervisors grant appeal, remove post-approval condition tied to unrelated property violations for Sherwood Road cell tower",16142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac&start=16142&end=16142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac/thumbnail_16142000.jpg","/articles/6473683/Mendocino-County/California/Supervisors-grant-appeal-remove-post-approval-condition-tied-to-unrelated-property-violations-for-Sherwood-Road-cell-tower","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473683-fe0d52ce36c325cd536a16f58657818a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770435613&Signature=UxRRzRME4vre8C8wLtOCko4CS7jrEuPJSjefIu6Pl1YrZLJmq264pPvi2qn3RrczZHS3Fj8vhRyXpH-O7pakQwopMSa0vJN0YdceLS-TTBnzhVBs00RNG-oOaoQd-ZRt-JPT1Lq4PtBvMVa~OATP9PMZE0Yv9EQxGhUINby4K8qjMJEQzJT2-POG6ciOZ5Hv1T9aqnqJrtB4SNdD0MCuICgL-3sbUYhNkMIOH45KIs4yRVgmHDUsWLHJUfHrGqxwGzy2h1ntBxcEEo2jG7GFQQ6sduWT53BLdz9NMwes9G1xYnVzWBC2yN0Z8V5maOConNEd8-nkFBN5RiIEoAl5AA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 9 granted an appeal by a wireless applicant (Verizon) and modified the Planning Commission's approval of a use permit for a 65-foot monopine-style cellular facility on Timberline Road, deleting a commission-added condition that would have required elimination of existing property-code violations before a building permit could be issued.

Background: The Planning Commission approved Use Permit U 2024-0004 on June 19 with a condition (No. 29) intended to ensure that code violations on the 22-acre host parcel were cured prior to building permit issuance. The applicant appealed, arguing the condition exceeded the commission's authority, risked unreasonable delay and could conflict with federal and state rules governing wireless facilities.

Board action and rationale: County planning staff referred the commission's concerns to Code Enforcement, which issued an inspection report documenting several violations on the property. Applicants and the property owner presented proposals and bids to address the identified items; counsel for the applicant argued that tying a tower building permit to unrelated, county-wide remediation on a large parcel would be disproportionate and legally risky. The Board adopted a resolution deleting Condition 29 and renumbering conditions; it also extended the permit expiration to a 10-year term from the Board action.

What remains: Deleting Condition 29 does not relieve the property of Code Enforcement's authority; staff can still pursue violations under existing enforcement tools. Veronica Rosenberg, the landowner, told the board she had been actively working to address the site's condition and said the tower would help generate resources needed to maintain the property.

Votes and next steps: The Board adopted the resolution granting the appeal unanimously. Planning staff will renumber conditions and reflect the 10-year term in the permit as directed.","The Board granted an appeal by a wireless applicant and removed a planning-commission-added condition that would have delayed issuance of a building permit until unrelated code violations across the 22-acre property were remediated.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":42,"_43":87,"_45":87,"_46":88,"_48":89,"_50":90,"_52":91,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":92,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":93,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6473688,"County accepts draft Noyo Harbor multimodal circulation plan; consultants to finalize after stakeholder feedback",3286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac&start=3286&end=3286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac/thumbnail_3286000.jpg","/articles/6473688/Mendocino-County/California/County-accepts-draft-Noyo-Harbor-multimodal-circulation-plan-consultants-to-finalize-after-stakeholder-feedback","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473688-20bb0a511075d9de75fa0452faa1171d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770435613&Signature=AE5n5S5kLrnpv0oqsZuJfSrtu-TsYVOZLKq47jBbyRUUOZSdlaCKYMUi5G5Egd8jgdAiDiZRD~A5-Obfn3ZXinUVhXn8NgF7UCf7Yi7aMaQTG3siIEUpr6uhO95HeAcJqtbnwahn0d59hscCzxeSt8f5xo-V0YE6dy5AvZedBvvxhXFqgcnbQrkOKd-ld2SicmZWWx3ssZOMY8OILm6gEwdEAoA6Q~3vfeXsGCrqRJrVVkW2Bu-iLvABc5jcefH2IEbCK0gVI7I3R7F5I9Hrf5CZ~9gwn1q8w5mq~wkOCU5zC4vgRR8-9H7GmwAHXo6EhUbDGtXOLsbVFQniPyRZwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors accepted a draft multimodal circulation and safety plan for Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg on Sept. 9 and directed staff to return with a final plan incorporating stakeholder feedback.

The plan, led by the Mendocino Council of Governments and funded by a Caltrans sustainable transportation planning grant, was presented by consultants Farr and Piers and partners. It responds to community concerns about conflicts among cars, parked vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists in the harbor area and recommends a package of short- and long-term measures to improve safety and access.

Key draft recommendations include a continuous pedestrian walkway from Highway 1 down North Harbor Drive and along the waterfront, a cantilevered walkway where right-of-way is constrained, improved beach-lot parking layout, a rehabilitated and enhanced stairway under Highway 1, pedestrian crosswalks and a wayfinding program that would also include evacuation-route signage. The plan identifies potential shuttle or water-taxi options and recommends a formalized emergency-access route for first responders.

Funding and implementation: Consultants said most capital improvements would require competitive grant funding such as Active Transportation Program grants or other state coastal-access sources. Board members and local officials discussed the feasibility and cost of a potential roundabout at the Highway 1 / North Harbor Drive intersection; staff said a roundabout would be a costly, long-term option and difficult to fund absent a strong accident history and identified funding sources.

Public input and next steps: The project team will present the draft to the Noyo Harbor District and revise the plan for a final adoption. Supervisor Norvell asked for clarification about a proposed inland access road; consultants said a full-time road to Noyo Point Road lacked community and property-owner support and presented environmental and right-of-way constraints, but a dedicated emergency-only access would remain in the plan. The board accepted the presentation unanimously.","The Board accepted a draft multimodal circulation plan for Fort Bragg's Noyo Harbor that proposes pedestrian walkways, a stair under Highway 1, wayfinding, limited parking reallocation and possible long-term intersection improvements; staff will finalize the plan after Noyo Harbor District and public input.",{"_33":95,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":96,"_41":42,"_43":97,"_45":97,"_46":98,"_48":99,"_50":100,"_52":101,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":102,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":103,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6473693,"County social workers, child-welfare staff petition supervisors over proposed staffing changes",430000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac&start=430&end=430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac/thumbnail_430000.jpg","/articles/6473693/Mendocino-County/California/County-social-workers-child-welfare-staff-petition-supervisors-over-proposed-staffing-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473693-adf5ab4c2b8c64abb7c9a4850af927cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770435613&Signature=RqCB0Ld37kU0ZMNmkrowNzzU4ba-wbO5aKiLFmpt51Ec7~vaD3BH9QGR~i8ANOmg39l3QyRUai8-3p6DLWmxX2W34bfTYKcocQSOC9L4wsmm3XpwBf1PwNXS1be8ci-Lub2Yidkao0KQ9lPfcsv-EmxOvZMfaSzzrwdZfYk7uJBm9ZCe8Ed3AQ4GcFhV60e5fP5W3tRNZ11afWoM9QZlt9i4WwUY-9zkHKH4Nx2~Myu3EdH-p9Qb418PKtQFW1Gl0GLcAUTWY-6I~OjJWeoFhV6mQLQOry0lgKeeqDkpiLnpmPg6wsveR17Iz-MVaKXnGxOWEfUBVLsCMcAYjuDKkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County social-services employees and foster-care staff used the Board of Supervisors' public-comment period Sept. 9 to press elected officials to pause proposed staffing changes in Family and Children Services, presenting a petition they said was signed by a majority of the unit.

Jeff Weston, who identified himself as an executive-board member of SEIU County Local 51 and a foster-care supervisor, told the board he had brought copies of a petition signed by \"the vast majority\" of Family and Children Services staff in Fort Bragg, Willits and Ukiah. The petition \"respectfully request[ed] that social services management pause the implementation of the proposed staffing changes,\" he said, and warned the planned reassignments would harm clients and create conflicts of interest when investigators are asked to carry ongoing cases.

Multiple line staff joined the public comment, giving specific concerns: Irene, a Willits-based social worker, said a pilot model that requires investigators to carry cases through ongoing services was already tried in Fort Bragg and did not serve clients well. She warned a rapid October timeline for implementation risked \"a lack of warm handoffs\" and higher staff burnout. Vicky Whitehead, a resource family approval worker, told supervisors that a planned reorganization would reassign an entire unit and that foster parents would lose continuity with caseworkers who currently support them. \"Healthy, strong foster parents give us healthier outcomes for our children,\" Whitehead said.

Staff asked the board to consider applying for a state waiver to allow a slower transition, and to involve line staff in planning. Weston said turnover already was high: \"Out of 34 social workers, more than 10 have left the department within the last year,\" and that turnover could rise under the current proposal. Several speakers urged a collaborative, phased approach that gives existing investigators and resource workers time and training to meet state education and credentialing expectations.

Board response: Supervisors listened and acknowledged the concerns. The item was raised in public comment and was not an action item on the agenda; supervisors noted public comment can be used to agendize future action. The County's leadership and the Family and Children Services department were asked to follow up with staff and to provide additional information to the board; staff did not present a detailed timeline or decision during the meeting.","Employees in Mendocino County Family and Children Services told supervisors during public comment that proposed staffing reassignments risk client safety and would destabilize services; staff brought a signed petition asking the Board to pause implementation and collaborate with line staff.",{"_33":105,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":106,"_41":42,"_43":107,"_45":107,"_46":108,"_48":109,"_50":110,"_52":111,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":112,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":113,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6473698,"Mendocino supervisors require verifiable contact info for most code complaints, keep anonymity option under manager discretion",10110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac&start=10110&end=10110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5744721-325b73c72b5f1f0dd06be996e20f3bac/thumbnail_10110000.jpg","/articles/6473698/Mendocino-County/California/Mendocino-supervisors-require-verifiable-contact-info-for-most-code-complaints-keep-anonymity-option-under-manager-discretion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473698-9b983f8066cb66d610ecf366e8c4d78e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770435613&Signature=m8sWV5Sy-lo1rcTYZ6Q3qdWpT9E6jCp-MXbd7wx~szF9NlngDhschVIz8NngTQCk7CDdw77I4eFkAka0ECgFNqsW~JfK3p3mKaJYdtEp2ASc6gwN09eRA0Nnk2SFdBfH7YG-gVb5p0B8lrdOEx0NMvd8UDsvzIGDueVulpYTFTlSuUXgByp2LFnxlWVhwhJWGkTj~J64cepp8K9PoyrEl2p4saotwaig2FndJtYEbwsYsEdV31dqXQxlA6ZY83c7ndlXlVnpTph9DGMbsogHCF34OC3D8AetRSEufs1gf~2qvb3faQoKIAtNRgU4KhQo~co084aaY78INE217jDwVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 9 clarified how the county will accept and prioritize code-violation complaints, requiring that complainants provide a real name and verifiable contact information while continuing to shield that information from public disclosure where allowed by law.

The board voted unanimously to give Code Enforcement managers discretion to prioritize anonymous complaints only when resources or safety concerns justify immediate action. The supervisors said the change is intended to reduce repetitive, vexatious anonymous filings that have strained staff and to help staff ensure the safety of inspectors who respond to potentially hazardous sites.

Why the board acted: Supervisors said recent spikes in anonymous complaints in some communities overloaded staff and diverted limited enforcement resources from cases that posed more immediate public-safety or environmental risk. Code Enforcement Manager Gretchen McLaughlin told the board that anonymous filings leave staff without basic facts they rely on to assess on-site hazards and plan safe inspections. \"My biggest concern is the safety of my employees,\" McLaughlin said during the meeting.

What the policy does: The new board direction requires that future community-based complaints include a name, a verifiable county address and contact information. When complainants cannot or will not provide that information, complaints will remain eligible for review but will be deprioritized or handled at the manager's discretion; life-safety reports will still get immediate attention regardless of anonymity. The board also asked staff to treat pending anonymous complaints differently: staff may suspend active investigations that originated from anonymous tips except those already formalized as notices of violation or liens.

Enforcement, confidentiality and appeals: The board and staff emphasized that, even when a complainant provides their name or contact details, that information is generally protected from public release under the California Public Records Act. The sheriff's office and county counsel joined the discussion to stress that serious criminal or dangerous circumstances should be reported to law enforcement and that Code Enforcement would coordinate with the sheriff when safety concerns arise.

Public reaction and next steps: During public comment, residents who operate volunteer camping sites and agro-tourism businesses urged the board to preserve the ability for people to report hazards anonymously for fear of retaliation. Other residents described repeated anonymous complaints from neighbors and supported the change. The board asked staff to implement the clarified policy, update the online complaint form so requirements are clear to the public, and return as needed with monitoring information on how the change affects enforcement workload.","The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to clarify the county's code-violation complaint process, requiring complainants to provide names and verifiable contact information while preserving confidentiality and giving code enforcement discretion to prioritize anonymous tips.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Supervisors approve county response to grand jury review of Planning & Building, direct staff to follow up on fire-code issue with Cal Fire

Supervisors grant appeal, remove post-approval condition tied to unrelated property violations for Sherwood Road cell tower

County accepts draft Noyo Harbor multimodal circulation plan; consultants to finalize after stakeholder feedback

County social workers, child-welfare staff petition supervisors over proposed staffing changes

Mendocino supervisors require verifiable contact info for most code complaints, keep anonymity option under manager discretion