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Calaveras supervisors approve Kindness Week proclamation, repeal cannabis badge rule; discuss animal shelter, STR rules and broadband funding
Summary
The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 approved a proclamation designating Feb. 14–20, 2025, as Kindness Week, voted to repeal certain cannabis zoning references and accepted the Mental Health Advisory Board’s bylaws, while receiving informational updates on a proposed $11.2 million animal shelter, a broadband funding appeal and a short‑term rental policy review.
The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Jan. 28, approved a proclamation declaring Feb. 14–20, 2025, National Random Acts of Kindness Week in the county, voted to remove obsolete zoning references to the county’s cancelled cannabis background‑clearance badge program, accepted the annual report from the Mental Health Advisory Board and received extended information items on a proposed new county animal shelter, a broadband funding appeal to the California Public Utilities Commission and possible county rules for short‑term vacation rentals.
Why it matters: The votes clear two housekeeping and recognition items off the agenda and leave staff-directed, multi‑month work on higher‑impact projects — the animal shelter design and cost estimate, a broadband funding appeal that county officials say could bring major infrastructure dollars to Calaveras, and development of a short‑term rental policy that supervisors signaled must balance public safety and tourism revenue.
Votes at a glance
- Proclamation: Designate Feb. 14–20, 2025, as Kindness Week in Calaveras County. Motion moved and seconded; vote: 5 yes, 0 no. (Item 2)
- Appointments: Clerk of the Board appointments, including filling District 1 seat on the Fish and Game Commission. Motion passed; vote: 5 yes, 0 no. (Consent/Item 5)
- Mental Health Advisory Board bylaws: Board accepted the annual report and approved updated bylaws for the period ending Dec. 31, 2024. Motion passed; vote: 5 yes, 0 no. (Item 15)
- Ordinance cleanup (cannabis): Adopt ordinance repealing Calaveras County Code sections 17.17.090(c) and 17.18.080(c), removing zoning references to the repealed cannabis background clearance badge program. Motion passed; vote: 4 yes, 1 no. (Item 17)
Other procedural notes
- An item to select a slogan for the Clean California / Keep Calaveras Clean project (Item 16) was pulled and continued to allow the Council of Governments (COG) to provide input.
What the board heard
- Animal shelter: LDA Partners presented a site plan and independent cost estimate for a proposed roughly 10,800‑square‑foot shelter on the existing facility site, with construction hard costs estimated at about $8.5 million and a total project estimate (hard costs, soft costs and contingencies) of about $11.2 million. Board members pressed for a near‑term schedule for architectural and structural drawings so the county can go out to bid.
- Broadband: County IT Director Lindsey Groot and Economic and Community Development Director Kathy Gallino said the California Public Utilities Commission awarded roughly $12 million to Comcast for infrastructure in the county, and that the county — working with the Golden State Connect Authority — is petitioning the CPUC to award the full round‑1 funding to the GSCA project. Staff asked the public to comment at the CPUC hearing to support the GSCA application.
- Short‑term vacation rentals (STRs): Staff presented a draft approach and asked the board for policy direction. Public commenters and supervisors debated registration versus permitting, occupancy limits, local contact requirements, impacts on parking and evacuation safety, and whether the existing Tulloch/Copper policy should remain more prescriptive. Staff said it will return with a revised draft ordinance after more stakeholder outreach and consultation with the sheriff’s office and fire chiefs.
- Tourism and behavioral health: The Calaveras Visitors Bureau reported visitor counts and marketing work; the Mental Health Advisory Board gave its annual report and described ongoing program and housing initiatives.
What’s next
Staff will return with revised drafts and follow‑up materials on the animal shelter cost/plan, a revised STR registration/ordinance proposal reflecting board direction, and noise ordinance language requested by the sheriff for more enforceable tools.
Speakers quoted in this roundup came from the meeting transcript and are named in the topic‑specific articles.
