Board approves change to Fish and Game Advisory Commission membership after review; funding for paid secretary to remain

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 12 to reduce the size of the Humboldt County Fish and Game Advisory Commission by one appointed member in each supervisorial district and directed the county to return an ordinance to amend the county code.

The action followed a report from Tracy D’Amico, Clerk of the Board, who conducted a “deep dive” review at the board’s direction of the commission’s membership, duties and funding. D’Amico told the board the commission is established by county ordinance, typically brings two to three agenda items a year to the board, handles small grant awards funded from Fish and Wildlife fines, and currently has 5 vacancies across the county.

Nut graf: The board discussed quorum challenges, the commission’s grant process and a paid secretarial contract that the commission invoices from its fund. After debate about alternatives (stipend, monthly fee, percentage of funds), supervisors approved reducing membership and left the existing secretarial arrangement in place for now; an ordinance will follow to codify the membership change.

D’Amico said the commission had struggled at times to reach quorum with 15 members staggered across supervisorial districts and that staffing the commission’s administrative tasks has historically been funded out of the commission’s Fish and Wildlife fine-derived account. The clerk’s written review said the commission is the only county board or commission currently billing for a paid secretarial contractor and that the invoice has varied historically; D’Amico said the recent annual invoice was $4,500 and that in some years the commission’s total grant pool has been as low as about $2,900.

County Administrative Officer Hayes told the board that revenues to the commission’s funding source have declined over time and that the administrative payment now consumes a large share of available dollars.

Supervisors offered options during the discussion: Supervisor Woodrow and others supported reducing the total membership to make quorum easier; Supervisor Wilson proposed keeping alternates to improve quorum reliability, while Supervisor Bone raised concerns about funding the secretarial role and suggested a percentage approach for administrative pay. The board ultimately approved a motion to reduce the commission membership by one appointee per supervisorial district and to return an ordinance to change the county code. A friendly amendment removed an initial cap on the commission’s secretarial invoice; the final motion passed 5-0.

The board’s clerk said the ordinance will return to the board because the commission is established in county code. D’Amico also reported the commission plans to submit its delayed annual report via a subcommittee and to begin using the county’s NEOGOV training system for members’ ethics and harassment trainings.

Ending: Supervisors said they value the commission’s expertise and work; county staff will draft the ordinance to reduce commission membership and will work with the commission on its annual report and training enrollment.