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Public urges board to agendize cannabis policy and planning appeal; board approves two pulled consent items
Summary
Cannabis business owners asked the Trinity County Board of Supervisors to agendize a review of county cannabis code compliance and to move a planning commission appeal forward; the board separately approved two previously pulled consent items including a $50,000 general plan workshop contract and expanded contract authority for CAL FIRE conservation crews.
Cannabis industry representatives asked the Trinity County Board of Supervisors to review staff direction on cannabis code compliance and to agendize a planning commission appeal that they say is delaying business activity.
Lisa Wright of Lewiston, who identifies herself as representing cannabis business interests, told the board the county’s largest industry includes more than 350 small businesses and that her company has “over 30 new license applications in our queue, 7 of which are ready to go to staff.” She asked the board to “agendize that for further discussion,” saying she believes inspections and staff assignments amount to a policy change that should come from the board rather than the CAO or staff.
Matthew Jefferson of Trinity Center spoke in support of Wright’s request.
The board separately considered two items pulled from the consent calendar for discussion. On item D4, a contract for additional community workshops tied to the general plan update, county staff directed the board to exhibit materials that contain a detailed breakdown of the $50,000 fee. The CAO said the $50,000 is coming from the general plan update fund and that “there's approximately $250,000 currently in that fund.” The CAO also outlined that the general plan update fund receives revenue from a $1 fee for new cannabis licenses, a $75 fee for renewals, and fees collected with certain Community Development permits.
After public comment and questions, the board voted to approve D4 as presented.
The board also discussed item D16, an amendment to expand contract authority for use of CAL FIRE conservation crews on county-owned property for fuels reduction. County staff described the crews as an available resource that has been used for fuels reduction and similar work, saying the crews have been used “for approximately $400 a day” and that a crew can include up to 15 individuals. Staff described the work as dependent on scheduling and CAL FIRE priorities. The board voted to approve the amendment, expanding the maximum contract authority to allow additional expenditures if needed.
Why it matters: Speakers said delays in appeals and reallocations of code compliance staff affect dozens of pending cannabis license applications and that the county’s cannabis sector is a significant local employer and tax base. The D4 decision authorizes an additional round of community workshops tied to the general plan update; county staff confirmed a fund balance and described the funding sources. The D16 vote expands the county’s ability to schedule conservation corps/Cal Fire crews for fuels work on county property without returning to the board for each authorization.
Votes at a glance: - D4 (general plan community workshops): approved. Funding source: general plan update fund (approximately $250,000 balance cited by CAO). Vote recorded in the meeting as aye votes by Supervisors Lewyler, Carpenter Harris, Brownfield and Goguen. - D16 (expand conservation crew/Cal FIRE contract authority): approved. Vote recorded in the meeting as aye votes by Supervisors Brownfield, Lewyler, Carpenter Harris and Gogan.
The public commenters who raised concerns requested that the board schedule a formal discussion of cannabis code compliance, and one speaker requested the pending planning commission appeal be placed on the next agenda.
