Board approves trail, bridge, labor contract and land actions in roll-call votes

Placer County’s Board of Supervisors used roll-call votes on March 4 to clear several funding and personnel items, from trail construction grants to a new bargaining agreement for probation officers.

The board authorized the county to provide up to $400,000 to the Northstar Community Services District for construction of the Martis Valley Trail segment 3F and approved related agreements and easements. The item was moved by Supervisor Jones and seconded by Supervisor Landon; Gustafson recused from the vote and the measure passed with the remaining members voting aye.

Why it matters: the action funds the final pot needed to complete the trail connection from the Castle Peak parking lot to Northstar Village, advancing the county’s ongoing Resort Triangle Trail effort connecting Truckee, Kings Beach and Tahoe City.

Other formal actions taken by the board included: - Watt Avenue over Dry Creek Bridge: The board approved Amendment No. 6 to Professional Services Agreement No. 948 with Dewberry Engineers, increasing the contract by $1,395,507.48 to a new total not to exceed $5,261,962.37, and authorizing execution of amendments up to an aggregate $526,196.24. Staff said extended environmental permitting and utility coordination had required additional design work. The motion passed on a roll-call vote after staff corrected the increase amount from an earlier reading.

- Probation Peace Officers MOU: The board adopted a three‑year memorandum of understanding with the newly recognized Placer County Probation Peace Officers Association (PPOA), covering deputy probation officer classifications. The contract includes a one‑time 4% market adjustment and general wage increases of 4% (July 2025), 3% (July 2026) and 3% (July 2027), plus other adjustments (uniform allowance for Tahoe‑assigned officers, canine premiums, educational incentives). The unit ratified the agreement on Jan. 7, 2025.

- Sabre City loan amendment: The board approved an amendment to a $5,000,000 loan the county made to HTP Sabre LLC (a Housing Trust Placer project LLC for the Sabre City development). The amendment authorizes the county executive to reallocate up to 10% of the loan ($500,000) among eligible budget categories (land acquisition, site improvements, preconstruction/construction) without changing the loan’s total value.

- Colson variance (Penryn): Following a continued hearing from December 2024, the board granted a variance allowing an existing 1,860‑square‑foot agricultural accessory structure (horse barn) to remain 13 feet from a side property line where a 30‑foot setback is normally required. Staff recommended approval and completed the CEQA review; the motion passed unanimously.

- Placer Parkway: The board adopted a resolution of necessity and authorized outside counsel to pursue the limited eminent domain process related to right‑of‑way for Placer Parkway phase 1, including a small fee acquisition (approx. 5,027 sq ft) needed for a Highway 65 on‑ramp. County counsel and staff said the action is required because the land is encumbered by a conservation easement and a “friendly” eminent domain action is the state‑law procedure to extinguish the easement over the portion to be acquired. Motions were approved by the required vote thresholds.

- Remainder votes and procedural motions: the board also approved routine consent items and other staff‑recommended approvals read into the record during the meeting.

What the board recorded on votes: Several items required roll‑call votes. For example, the Martis Valley Trail segment 3F funding was a roll‑call motion (Jones moved, Landon second) with Gustafson recusing; the Watt Avenue bridge amendment passed on a roll‑call after staff corrected an earlier misread dollar figure; the PPOA MOU and Sabre City loan amendment passed by voice vote after public comment and staff presentation.

What’s next: staff said work on the Martis trail segment and the Watt Avenue bridge will continue into the design and permitting phases with construction anticipated in future fiscal years. The county will implement the approved MOU pay and policy changes on the schedule specified in the contract. The county executive and relevant department directors will execute the loan amendment and other documents subject to County Counsel and Risk Management review.

Provenance: Board minutes and roll‑call records for the March 4, 2025 meeting contain the presentations and final votes for all items cited herein.