County reports 35% progress in first year of five‑year strategic plan

County staff presented the fourth‑quarter progress report on Del Norte County’s five‑year strategic plan, describing focus areas, year‑one accomplishments and items that remain in progress.

Staff said the plan was organized around four focus areas — county staffing and capacity; infrastructure and economic development; law, justice and homelessness; and governance and budget — and reported overall year‑one completion at about 35 percent. Completed items included creation of a county HR department and a risk management function, funding and initiation of a county economic development position, Measure R capital projects at the Veterans’ Hall and courthouse, and establishment of a standing homelessness technical advisory committee.

Items carried forward Staff identified several items that lagged schedule and will be carried forward, including a microgrid assessment, Pike Field improvement work, and improvements to indigent defense and the public‑defender system. The enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation remains underway and is slated to roll out in the next fiscal year; staff described ERP as a major, countywide undertaking involving auditor, IT and finance staff.

Board engagement and recommendations Staff recapped technical advisory committee recommendations discussed during the quarter, including revisiting a short‑term vacation rental ordinance and exploring use of artificial intelligence to streamline certain county services. Supervisors offered no substantive changes at the meeting and accepted the quarterly report.

Ending: Staff will carry listed work items into the FY 2025–26 plan and present budget‑related action items as part of the upcoming budget cycle.