Plumas County adopts limited‑term Disaster Recovery Coordinator after CPAT recovery report for Greenville and Canyon Dam

The Plumas County Board of Supervisors on March 18 received a final implementation strategy from the American Planning Association, California chapterCommunity Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) for recovery in Greenville and Canyon Dam following the 2021 Dixie Fire, and approved a limited‑term Disaster Recovery Coordinator position to help carry out the plan.

The CPAT presentation, led by Hanson Hall and Michael Smiley of the APA California CPAT team and introduced locally by Tracy Ferguson, Plumas County planning director, summarized about 43 recommendations organized around five guiding principles: governance, economics, housing, community design and planning/regulation. The board then adopted a resolution to create and recruit for a full‑time, limited‑term Disaster Recovery Coordinator to work on implementation in partnership with community groups such as the Dixie Fire Collaborative.

Why it matters: CPATan experienced volunteer team of planning professionalstold supervisors the Indian Valley communities possess strong local organizing capacity but need a community‑based action plan, streamlined regulations and an operational coordinator to translate strategy into funded work. Supervisors said the proposed coordinator would relieve county staff who have been covering recovery duties in addition to normal responsibilities.

CPAT findings and county reaction

Hanson Hall told the board the CPAT team spent several days in Plumas County in 2023, reviewed earlier design work for Greenville and Canyon Dam, and developed an "implementation strategy" that complements prior reports produced after the wildfire. Michael Smiley summarized the CPAT recommendations and said the team highlighted 18 priority recommendations (from the 43 total) intended to kickstart recovery, with governance and an economic/market analysis rated high priorities.

Tracy Ferguson, the county planning director, said she is working with community groups and that CPATwhich produced a Greenville Town Center Design Guidebook and a Canyon Dam summaryis intended as a resource to help prepare a community‑based long‑term recovery plan. Several supervisors emphasized the project is time sensitive because the board will decide budget priorities during mid‑year and the 2025—26 budget cycle.

Board action: Disaster Recovery Coordinator

Following the presentation the board adopted a set of three related resolutions and authorized recruitment for a limited‑term, full‑time Disaster Recovery Coordinator position. The job description places the position under the County Administrative Office, establishes a starting wage of $35 per hour (with a five‑step scale), and funds the three‑year limited term through the PG&E Dixie Fire Settlement Fund.

The county estimated the fully burdened cost of the three‑year position at about $440,919.28; Human Resources presented a range and said the final cost will depend on where an eventual hire would place on the five‑step scale. The board approved creation of the position, a related budget amendment and authorization to recruit.

Supervisors and community members asked how the coordinator would work with existing local structures, including the Dixie Fire Collaborative. CPAT and county staff said the report offers options for governance and recommended continued community involvement whether the collaborative remains an informal group or takes on another legal structure.

Next steps and context

Tracy Ferguson said the county expects to present the CPAT report again at a Greenville community meeting in April and that the newly authorized coordinator position will be central to preparing and implementing a priority action plan for Indian Valley. CPAT emphasized that timelines for implementing recommendations will be shaped by human capacity and grant funding.

Ending

Supervisors praised the CPAT team and thanked community members and county staff for recovery work to date. The board instructed staff to proceed with recruiting for the coordinator and to bring implementation and budget details back as part of the county's mid‑year and next fiscal year budget processes.