Needles, budget on board’s agenda
Adjustment of $3 million in relation to cost for Project Roomkey to be discussed
After the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 at its last meeting to waive the first reading of an ordinance banning needle exchange and distribution programs within the unincorporated areas of the county, the board will consider two letters of opposition in response to recent proposals on the topic from the California Department of Public Health.
According to Tuesday’s meeting agenda, District 4 Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue requested county staff draft letters of opposition in response to Assembly Bill 1344 and proposed changes to California Code of Regulations regarding syringe program regulations.
AB 1344 would exempt CDPH-authorized syringe access programs “from complying with the California Environmental Quality Act review process,” the agenda states. The CDPH has also proposed changes to California Code of Regulations, Title 17, which would “exempt the CDPH from adhering to any local ordinances or land use decisions” in relation to the aforementioned programs.
The regular agenda also includes two budget adjustments related to local response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which require a 4/5 vote from the board to be approved.
The first is in response to an announcement from the state in February that one-time $600 payments would be made to eligible CalWORKs families who have been impacted by the pandemic through the Golden State Grant Program.
The agenda states Butte County has approx
imately 2,000 CalWORKs households eligible to receive the one- time payment, which totals approximately $1.2 million, which the board will be asked to approve. It will be fully funded by state and federal funds.
Second, the county is recommending a budget adjustment of $3 million in relation to cost for Project Roomkey, which has been providing non- congregate sheltering in hotel rooms, meal delivery, and other services for people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. According to the agenda, the budget adjustment would come from the General Fund Appropriation for Contingencies, which has a current balance of $3,867,213.
Board meetings are held at the County Administration Building, 25 County Center Drive, in Oroville. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meetings remain closed to the public. Meetings can be viewed on the county’s website, www.buttecounty.net/boardofsupervisors/boardofsupervisors/boardmeetings. Members of the public wishing to speak can register at www.bcadmin.net/comments by 4 p.m. the day before a meeting.