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Siskiyou County supervisors oppose state bear bill, approve multiple local resolutions and land‑use actions
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted May 5 to send a modified letter opposing Senate Bill 1305 (Wildlife: Bears), adopted multiple resolutions and first readings of zoning ordinances, extended local emergency proclamations on illicit cannabis and illegal pesticides, and authorized up to $500,000 in CDBG program‑income funds for transfer station equipment.
The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors on May 5 approved a package of resolutions and ordinance first readings and voted to send a modified letter opposing Senate Bill 1305 (Wildlife: Bears).
Deputy County Clerk Wendy Winningham pulled item 5D from the consent agenda for discussion. Project Manager Joanne Johnson presented a red‑lined version of the draft letter; the Board agreed to remove a sentence and modified the fifth paragraph to read, "For these reasons, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors opposes SB 1305." The motion to approve the modified letter carried with Supervisors Nancy Ogren, Michael N. Kobseff, Jess Harris and Ray A. Haupt voting yes and Supervisor Ed Valenzuela absent.
The meeting also cleared several administrative and land‑use items. The Board adopted Resolution 26‑67 authorizing application for and execution of a Community Development Block Grant (program income) grant of up to $500,000 for purchase of equipment for the PI Only Solid Waste Transfer Station. It adopted Resolution 26‑79 to amend the County's withdrawal effective date from the Siskiyou Transportation Agency Joint Powers Agreement from May 18, 2026 to November 18, 2026 to allow staff additional time to complete withdrawal steps.
On land‑use matters, the Board directed staff to issue Notices of Non‑Renewal for multiple properties under the Williamson Act (Resolutions 26‑80, 26‑81 and 26‑82) after public hearings; one property owner, Mark Baird, raised concerns about increased property taxes and the Board discussed rezoning the parcels to Timber Production Zone (TPZ) as one option. The Board introduced and approved first readings of ordinances to reassign the Environmental Health Division from Community Development to the Health and Human Services Agency and to rezone several parcels to TPZ or Highway Commercial; second readings were continued to June 16, 2026.
The Board extended two existing local emergency proclamations: the emergency regarding illegal pesticides and illicit cannabis operations (Resolution 25‑109) and the emergency related to proliferation of illegal cannabis cultivation (Resolution 25‑11).
Votes at a glance - Opposition letter to SB 1305 (modified): approved (4–0, 1 absent). Moved by Supervisor Michael N. Kobseff; seconded by Chair Ray A. Haupt. - Resolution 26‑67 (CDBG program‑income funds, up to $500,000 for transfer station equipment): approved as part of the consent agenda (4–0, 1 absent). - Resolution 26‑79 (amend withdrawal effective date from STA JPA to Nov. 18, 2026): approved (4–0, 1 absent). - Resolutions 26‑80, 26‑81, 26‑82 (Williamson Act Notices of Non‑Renewal for specific APNs): approved after public hearings (each 4–0, 1 absent). - Ordinances introduced and first readings approved (various zone changes and code reorganization): introduced, first reading approved and second reading continued to June 16, 2026. - Extensions of local emergency proclamations (Resolutions 25‑109 and 25‑11): approved (4–0, 1 absent).
The Board’s approvals were largely unanimous among members present; Supervisor Valenzuela was absent for roll calls. The actions will require follow‑up at staff level (processing Notices of Non‑Renewal, bringing second readings back to the Board, and executing grant agreements).
